Comment Central: who would replace Souter?

US Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire, a development that would give President Barack Obama his first chance to make an appointment to America’s highest court.

News outlets cited unidentified sources in reports that Justice Souter, considered one of the court's liberal members, would step down.

A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court said Justice Souter, 69, "has no comment on these reports that he is planning to resign."

An appointment by President Obama, a Democrat who praised the court's liberal-leaning members during the presidential campaign, would not likely shift the ideological balance of power on the court.

But he could name a younger justice who could serve for decades - beyond his own presidency even if that turned into two terms, or eight years.

The nine-member court has often split in 5-4 votes between conservative and liberal factions on such contentious social issues as abortion, the death penalty and race cases.

The National Public Radio report said Justice Souter was expected to remain on the bench until a successor had been confirmed. The may or may not happen before the court reconvenes in October after its current term ends in late June.

One report said Justice Souter has informed the White House of his decision, however White Houser officials were not immediately available for comment.

Chosen for the Supreme Court in 1990 by Republican President George Bush, Justice Souter proved to be far more liberal than initially expected.

He has supported abortion rights, affirmative action programs to help minorities overcome past discrimination and campaign-finance restrictions aimed at political corruption.

Justice Souter also has voted in cases to limit the use of the death penalty and in favour of the legal rights of the prisoners held at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

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