Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter Dead at 85

(Jim Cole/AP photo)

Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who served on the nation’s highest court for 19 years, has died at the age of 85.

Souter, who retired from the court in 2009, died “peacefully” at his New Hampshire home, according to a statement from the Supreme Court.

He was born in Melrose, MA, in 1939, and appointed to the Supreme Court by George H.W. Bush in 1990 after serving as attorney general of New Hampshire.

Despite being appointed by a Republican, Souter leaned left on issues like abortion, the death penalty and the balance of church and state.

“Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years,” Chief Justice John Roberts said the court statement. “He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service. After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade. He will be greatly missed.”

Souter, a Harvard grad, retired from the High Court in 2009. He was replaced by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was appointed by then-President Barack Obama.