National Public Radio is reporting that Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire after the end of the current court term.  The reports are breaking and have not been confirmed as of yet, but should they prove true, the development would make way for President Obama’s first appointment to the Supreme Court.

David Souter was a pleasant surprise to women’s rights supporters after his appointment to the high court in 1990 by then President George H.W. Bush.  What many conservatives and pro-lifers hoped would be a step toward finally overturning Roe v. Wade turned out to be a false alarm when Souter revealed his true colors as a moderate who supported a woman’s right to choose.  He has been a reliable vote for choice ever since and has often sided with the other “liberal” members of the SCOTUS bench, John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer on on other issues as well, including Bush v. Gore.  Indeed in subsequent appointments to the highest bench, conservative activists likened the Justice to a Benedict Arnold turncoat and used the phrase “No More Souters” as a rallying cry.So what does this mean for the future?  Probably not too much in terms of votes on the court.  Obama will likely appoint a left leaning moderate who supports a woman’s right to choose who will then end up voting in much the same as David Souter after being confirmed.  I would expect the President to nominate a judge that would bring more diversity onto the bench.  I would not be surprised to see a female nominee, a Latino nominee, or both - which I guess would actually be Latina.  Oh, and as an added bonus, the Republicans will be virtually powerless to do anything about it.  Which is always fun.