Wait, when is Souter stepping down?

Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 3:59 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Courts, Pete Williams

From NBC's Pete Williams

Sen. Jeff Sessions, the ranking Judiciary Committee Republican, appears to have misstated when David Souter intends to retire from the Supreme Court.

Sessions said today that there's no need to rush the confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor.

"We have a good advantage in that Justice Souter's resignation doesn't take effect until October 5th, when the term ends," Sessions said, adding, "and I do think that gives us the ability to take our time and do it right," he said.

But when Justice Souter sent his letter to President Obama on May 1st, he wrote, "When the Supreme Court rises for the summer recess this year, I intend to retire from regular active service as a Justice."

That would mean end end of June or very early in July, not the beginning of October.

It's true that in the past, some justices have said their retirements would become effective at the moment a successor was nominated and confirmed. But that is not what Justice Souter said.

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Comments

Sessions has his own reality. After all, he's a senator – or maybe an elf.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:09 PM)

Stall…Spin… & Reject! The new & improved ‘Big 3’ brought to you by the GEENOPEE!

Next…

Feisty Rehead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:11 PM)

Jeff Sessions try to draw this out as long as possible to appear to the base they are fighting for them while not appearing to Latinos as dragging their feet. Nice try Jeff, but lets call it what it is OK?

Paul Dobroski (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:13 PM)

My gosh, a Republican may have misstated something. Better get CNN, CBS, ABC, and NBC to tell us what he meant to say. Better get Senator Pat Leahy telling us "It's no big deal". We'll also need to have all the Sunday shows tell us that Sessions may have mis-spoke, but he's still a good man.

It's Only Fair (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:20 PM)

The Goppers have never let a little thing like facts get in their way. They will spin everything to make their followers believe them. Of course aided and abetted by Faux News.

Gingerbread mamma Jupiter, Fl (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:23 PM)

Oh, wow, wait--we've got more days to delay than we thought. We can drag this out until Oct 5, the first day of the new Supreme Court session. Take all the time you need, question as much as you wish but dragging your heels beyond the August recess won't change anything except the explanation you give your constituients while on recess.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:24 PM)

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:27 PM)

The sad reality is that we, the American Tax payers, who are going to suffer...suffer from a needlessly expensive confirmation process for a nominee who is a sure-in! Even if the repukes threaten a filibuster, the Dems can always vote it away for judicial nominees.

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:29 PM)

You don't care that a racist will be sitting on the Supreme Court?
Doe Jon - Oklahoma (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:13 PM)
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Pssst… did Lush tell you that?? She’s about a much of a racist as you are Doe Jon from OK
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I suggest you find a clip of the HBO Documentary "Right America - Feeling Wronged". You'll no doubt find that there are just as many Whites who are ignorant of politics as there are minorities (or even better, read some of the postings here).
jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:10 PM)
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OMG was that not some scary stuff? The whack jobs are soo worried about terrorists when we have our own home grown brand! As I watched the documentary I didn’t know whether to feel sad or terrified that they walk among us! Good Grief!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:35 PM)

So if it is a no brainer that she will be in no matter what....

Why the rush? Is this the most important thing the senate has to do before Sept?

Sean (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:37 PM)

no joe-
The justices do actually have work that they do when the court is in recess. Appeals to the court come in year round, many requesting immediate stays. Those are divided up amongst the justices, with each assigned a region.

Nice try.

Siegfried, Central Illinois (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:38 PM)

Justice Souter plans to retire when the court steps down for this year. The court does not re-convene until October 5. therefore, his absence from the bench will not be important until that date.

Nice try, First read, but-

epic fail.
no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:27 PM)

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It's ultimately arguing semantics, but go back to Senator Sessions' own words...the Supreme Court's term ends in the summer, not on October as Sessions stated.

However, we're in agreement...non-issue.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:38 PM)

pat --> from a needlessly expensive confirmation process

Maybe we should just disband Congress? Let Obama do what ever he wants? It would save a lot of money.

Vickie Holt (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:38 PM)

(from an earleir thread)

Leave it to the Dems to misinterpret. Reading into it what they want.

When I said "give us some credibility" I was talking about Leahy's lack of credibility, not mine.

Man, you libs go off on your own, don't you?

I've got more credibility in my little ears that Leahy's got in his career, if you want to call it that.

Next time, read the damn sentence the way it's written. Stupidos.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:40 PM)

Justice Souter may have just used a poor choice of words.

Prediction: No filibuster and no real problems confirming. No more Republican questioning and examination than Democrats had for Alito and Roberts. Sotomayor is just as qualified and we're really just trading a Souter for a Souter, except for the window dressing.

She's qualified. Confirm her. Spare us the usual theatrics.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:41 PM)

Like no joe, no bo -- I can't believe I'm actually saying this -- maybe he was thinking of the first Monday in October, when the Court starts the new term, and presumably the actual date when a new justice would have to be in place.

Or, alternatively, Sessions is just an idiot. Could go either way. ;)

Anna Molly (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:42 PM)

No one's talking about the first terrorist jihad attack on American soil since 9/11.

"Even if the repukes threaten a filibuster, the Dems can always vote it away for judicial nominees."

pat huntington ny

pat: So, you're admitting that the Dems only wanted the filibuster for themselves all this time?

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:46 PM)

Do all the Senators stand up and bow to Sotomayor as she makes her rounds? You know like the press does for Obama?

Calvin Pierce, NC (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:48 PM)

Justice Souter plans to retire when the court steps down for this year. The court does not re-convene until October 5. therefore, his absence from the bench will not be important until that date.

Nice try, First read, but-

epic fail.
no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:27 PM)

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Nice try no joe, the court decides what they will hear before the opening of the court. There is usually a couple of months worth of work to do before the Oct. 5th opening.

Epic failure, no joe . . . oh, wait . . . your normal uninformed failure, no joe.

Matthew, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:50 PM)

Tamron/David: Liked the "Face Off" segment that just aired!

Where in the world did MSNBC find that clown Armstrong? One more Black Repuke to add to the idiocy! ...maybe the Repukes are up 50 black folk now. Too funny!

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:52 PM)

Bad Chihuahua: Learn how to write worth a damn and you won't be misunderstood. But then what can one expect from the cult of Limbaugh?

Philimus, Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:02 PM)

A justice has to hire clerks (the sitting ones are already doing this) and start going through cases that are submitted to the court to pick the ones that will be heard. The earlier the confirmation the better.

Rich, Baltimore, MD (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:05 PM)

The Supreme Court, and each of its Justices, have ongoing responsibilities even when the Court is not in session. Souter, for example, is the circuit justice for the First and Third Circuit Courts of Appeals. No joe, please try to know what you're talking about if you want to weigh in.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:13 PM)

I made a point of what I hear and why minorities vote in lockstep for the Democrat party.
IntheMiddle, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:44 PM)
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Could another reason be that the Republiklans have mad it obvious that they're not welcome in there's??

Just wondering...

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:13 PM)

The Dimocrats have never let a little thing like facts get in their way. They will spin everything to make their followers believe them. Of course aided and abetted by msnbc.

Gingerbread mamma Jupiter, Fl (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:18 PM)

Anna Molly, I would just like to think Sessions is an idiot! Right On!

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:36 PM)

The G'No'P has never let reality get in the way of some good ole fashioned obstructionism.

The Rational Hatter (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:50 PM)

Demonrats, commies, idiots..please. When a person does not promote people because they aren't a minority (talking about the firefighters), that's about as racists as it gets. Dumbacrats, when will you get it?

MIKE, Lake Charles,LA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:50 PM)

Next time, read the damn sentence the way it's written. Stupidos.
Bad Chihuahua (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 4:40 PM)

Please do the same for the Sotomayor comments that are being made a big deal of. As a chihuahua you should appreciate the comments of a smart Latina.

moir (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:53 PM)

Jeff Sessions makes an error in fact?

Guess the Senate was right to keep him off the bench.

JC from IA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:59 PM)

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