Why did David Souter retire from the Supreme Court so young and soon?

[Polybius]

With Bush Sr.'s death all over the news, it got me thinking about Souter again. He was on the SC from 1990 to 2009. He was 51 when he joined, and just 69 when he stepped down, a baby for a retiring SCJ. I get it if you're old or very sick, but he was neither.

Now, I know he wanted to retire under a Democrat, but he had at least 16 years left in him. Why give up the best job in the world?

[JI7]

1. he was homesick

hated living there

[Glimmer of Hope]

2. Maybe because he worked with some major assholes.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. Offer he couldn't refuse. n/t

[kstewart33]

4. Maybe like so many, he simply wanted to retire.

His was an extremely demanding job. Perhaps he was slipping a step or two intellectually, and believed it was the right time. 18 years on this job is so demanding. Who wants to work well into your 80s?

Sometimes we expect too much from those in critically important positions.

[Lotusflower70]

5. Why not?

It's his life, his choice. He weighed his pros and cons and did what was best for him.

[FBaggins]

6. Obama as President and 57 Senators on our side

That's a perfect time to retire and get replaced by someone 15 years younger.

If only Ginsburg had such foresight.

[mr_lebowski]

7. Did you mean Obama? (nt)

[FBaggins]

8. Let's pretend that I did

Thanks. Corrected.

[mr_lebowski]

9. I already was ;)

[SoCalDem]

10. look at this list of SCOTUS and notice the length of tenure

until "modern times"


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Justices_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States