My First Encounter with Justice Souter
Back in the winter of 2002, I had my clerkship interview with Justice David Souter. The setting was his chambers, filled to the brim with hardbound books, giving off major nineteenth-century vibes. I was all geared up for questions on legal doctrine, but to my surprise, Justice Souter steered the conversation towards some newly framed woodcut prints waiting to be hung. Somewhere between discussing Baudelaire and getting sidetracked by artwork, I almost forgot I was in an interview to work for a Supreme Court Justice. As our hour-long chat wrapped up, I couldn’t resist asking about the influences behind his unique writing style. His unexpected answer? The refrains and cadences of the Book of Common Prayer.
The Quirks of My Boss
My boss, a serious Wasp, had a knack for standing out among his mostly non-Wasp clerks. One memorable moment involved him admiring an American Impressionist painting at the Corcoran Gallery while wistfully reminiscing about a time when people dressed up for dinner. The irony? He never accepted formal dinner invitations in Washington, D.C. However, put him at a table with Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and Henry James in Boston or Cambridge, and he’d feel right at home. In a conversation about my Korean heritage, he dropped a bombshell about his ancestry, revealing connections to Mayflower arrivals, a few Presidents, and even eleven of the twenty-five barons who signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede.
The Legacy of Justice Souter
When Justice Souter passed away at the age of eighty-five, the media frenzy was all about the selection of the first American Pope, Leo XIV, which seemed oddly fitting. Since his retirement in 2009, the Supreme Court has been dominated by a super-majority of Catholics, with six including Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Fast forward twenty years, and at a reunion for his former law clerks, my co-clerks and I staged a skit where Justice Souter emerged as the surprise new Pope from a conclave. Our light-hearted joke reflected his aversion to power plays and spotlight, earning a chuckle from the man himself.
The Unconventional Justice
Justice Souter’s tenure on the Court was marked by unexpected twists, especially when it came to cases like Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Despite being appointed by a Republican President, Justice Souter surprised many by authoring a plurality opinion that upheld the constitutional right to abortion. His nuanced approach to the law and commitment to principles over politics often left him at odds with the conservative legal movement. While his impact may not have been as flashy as some of his colleagues, his legacy lives on through his dedication to duty and unwavering integrity.
In Retrospect
Looking back on my time as a clerk for Justice Souter, I can’t help but appreciate the lessons learned from a man who valued humility over grandiosity. His simple yet profound approach to judging left a lasting impression on all who knew him. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, Justice Souter’s legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of staying true to one’s principles and embracing uncertainty in the pursuit of justice.
