President Obama confirmed today that Supreme Court Justice David Souter will retire and said he hopes to have a replacement confirmed by the time the court begins its new session on the first Monday of October.

Obama interrupted a briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to make the announcement.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy praised Souter for having "served the nation with distinction for nearly two decades on the Supreme Court. I have admired his commitment to justice, his admiration for the law, and his understanding of the impact of the Court's decisions on the daily lives of ordinary Americans."

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