It always was a three-way tie for which Justice left first

Real world kids, and the real world that can affect our lives permanently through its decisions, but the Supreme Court is losing an Associate Justice, David Souter. This Bush I nominee was a gentleman, a scholar, a throwback to legal pads, "the stacks" and nondelegation of his intellectual work product. The affirmed bachelor has always detested DC, preferring the quiet and Luddite charm of his native New England. A true jurisprudential moderate, and an advocate of a living Constitution (though not to the extent of Breyer), he was the portrait of judicial restraint and equanimity.

I worked for a judge in Iowa who is remarkably like Justice Souter.

I always assumed that it would play out as A) Ginsburg leaving this summer after the economic package cleared, B) Stevens would leave after the Oct. 2009 term, owing to his age (88), and that C) Souter would retreat to his loves and his life in '10.

Good luck, Justice Souter.