WASHINGTON — Justice David Souter’s final few weeks of work will be busy ones for the Supreme Court, which has yet to resolve disputes over a major part of the Voting Rights Act, federal campaign finance law and job discrimination claims by white firefighters.
The court’s work will be done against the backdrop of Souter’s looming retirement, announced May 1, and President Barack Obama’s nomination of a successor. Obama has said he wants the new justice in place by the time the court’s next term begins Oct. 5.
Although Souter’s imminent departure will draw much attention between now and late June, all eyes will be on Justice Anthony Kennedy, the conservative-leaning justice whose vote ends up deciding cases on which the court is ideologically divided.
