The news that Justice Souter has informed President Obama of his intent to resign reminds me of a post I wrote on election night back in November:
[Orin Kerr, November 5, 2008 at 1:03am] Trackbacks
A Prediction about the Next Move on the Court:
At the end of the OT08 Term, in late June 2009, Justice David Souter informs President Barack Obama that he is resigning from the Supreme Court. A month later, President Obama nominates Elena Kagan, currently the Dean of Harvard Law School, to replace him.
Rats, my timing was way way off. The crystal ball was saying Souter would inform Obama in late June, not late April. Can’t trust those crystal balls, I guess.
UPDATE: Incidentally, my favorite hint that Souter was retiring, other than the law clerk bit, was Justice Ginsburg’s comment about the official Supreme Court photograph back in March:
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told law students Friday there could be an opening on the Supreme Court soon but didn’t hint at who might be leaving. Ginsburg, who spoke at New England Law’s annual “Law Day,” said the nine justices only take pictures together when a new member is added. “We haven’t had any of those for some time, but surely we will soon,” she said.