Constitutional Law

Souter on the Humanities, Serving on the Court

In a rare public appearance, Justice David Souter has made an aside that observers are seeing as a glimpse into his view of serving on the nation's highest court.

At the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in D.C., Souter discussed his personal reading and remarked, 'I cram what I can into the summertime.' He continued to state that, due to time constrictions, beginning the Supreme Court term in October is therefore a 'sort of annual intellectual lobotomy.'

'Without making too much of it, Souter's comment opened an interesting window into his thinking about his job – and why conventional wisdom has it that he is considering leaving the Court soon to repair to his New Hampshire home,' reports The BLT's Tony Mauro. 'If he thinks of his work on the Court, even sarcastically, as a nine-month-long, brain-evacuating experience, it is easier to see why he would want to leave it behind – if nothing else, to catch up on his reading.'

Souter's speech focused on the importance of broad humanities education. 'Where history's understanding is missing, cynicism will take its place,' he said. Then quoting Oliver Cromwell, Souter concluded that these words should appear above the entrance to all public buildings and schools: 'Consider That Ye May Be Wrong."

Full post as published by ACS Blog on March 10, 2009 (boomark / email).