Supreme Court justice David Souter plans to retire at the end of this term of the Supreme Court, National Public Radio reported Thursday night.
Without citing any named sources, NPR said that Souter — a relatively young justice at just 69 years of age — plans to retire at the end of this term.
If true, the retirement could open up an opportunity for President Obama to reshape the Supreme Court with a new jurist.
Obama’s nominee would already face a filibuster-proof majority of Democrats in the Senate, presuming would-be Minnesota lawmaker Al Franken (D) wins court challenges and is seated.
Interestingly, Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), who announced this week that he would switch parties to pursue reelection as a Democrat, was the chief Republican opponent of Obama’s judicial nominees, having served until now as ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.