Former Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter Passes Away at 85

David H. Souter, appointed to the Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush, passed away on Thursday at the age of 85 in his home state of New Hampshire. Serving for 19 years, Justice Souter became a key figure in the court’s diminishing liberal faction. On Friday, the Supreme Court announced his passing, noting that he died “peacefully” without giving a specific cause.

A reserved individual, Justice Souter never married and preferred the solitude of a good book over the social scenes of Washington. Demonstrating a desire to return to a quieter life, he retired from the bench at the relatively young age of 69. This decision at the close of the 2008-09 court term opened up a Supreme Court seat for President Barack Obama early in his first term. During his second year on the court, Justice Souter was already recognized by a label that remained with him throughout his service.