The Early View Of Justice Souter

Initially, it was the left that had reservations about a Justice Souter.

It seems pretty hard to believe now, but back in 1990, when President George Bush nominated David Souter to be an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, it was the left that was most apprehensive and the right that was excited, happily so.

The president's nomination was a "home run," gushed then-White House Chief of Staff John Sununu. Conservatives were thrilled. The end to legal abortion was in the foreseeable future, both sides thought.

And when the Senate confirmed Souter on Oct. 2 that year, by an overwhelming 90-9 tally, the opposition came from liberals: Brock Adams (WA), Daniel Akaka (HI), Bill Bradley (NJ), Quentin Burdick (ND), Alan Cranston (CA), Ted Kennedy (MA), John Kerry (MA), Frank Lautenberg (NJ) and Barbara Mikulski (MD).

But between his votes on affirming the Roe decision on abortion and dissenting in the Bush v. Gore case in 2000, Souter became a reliable liberal vote on the court.

His departure, whenever it comes, is not likely to alter the ideological makeup of the court. In fact, he may even be succeeded by someone with even more progressive credentials. Tops on the list appear to be Solicitor General Elena Kagan and federal appeals court judges Sonia Sotomayor and Diane Wood.