His jurisprudence has been overshadowed by that of his showier colleagues but was a model of principled restraint.

In a world of grandstanding and gavels, David Souter was a whisper — a Granite State recluse who slipped onto the Supreme Court in 1990 like a shadow through a side door, only to leave an indelible mark on American law and the politics of judicial selection.

This article is part of a series on the legacy and jurisprudence of the late Justice David Souter. Michael Mongan currently serves as the California Solicitor General. He clerked for Justice David […]