BREAKING: Justice David Souter has died

Justice Souter is the only member of the Court in recent memory to retire in his prime after a good, long stint of 19 years—rather than serve into his 80s or die in robes. He was 70 when he retired and has spent the last 15 years enjoying life in his home state of New Hampshire.

He was also the last justice to depart meaningfully from the ideology of the president who appointed him. Souter was appointed by George Bush the elder and, within a few terms, started voting in most contentious cases with the liberal wing of the Court.