The late retired Justice David H. Souter’s time on the Supreme Court has become paradigmatic of profound change on the court, as his 19-year tenure straddled an era of increasing polarization in the nation’s politics and helped shape the modern era of judicial confirmations.

Souter, who passed away Thursday at his home in New Hampshire according to a Supreme Court announcement, retired from the high court in 2009 and the vacancy was filled by current Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Souter, 85, had been appointed to the Supreme Court by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990, but his tendency to side with Democratic appointees to the court on issues such as abortion rights led to cries of “No more Souters” among conservatives who increasingly sought ideologically aligned justices.

Ilya S

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