In his beloved New Hampshire, as on the US Supreme Court bench, David H. Souter was often willing to go it alone — hiking solo to the top of many of the state’s 48 mountains that exceed 4,000 ...

Souter grew up in Weare and returned to New Hampshire after college to practice law. He later joined the state’s Department of Justice and rose through the ranks to become attorney general in 1976.

WASHINGTON – Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a favorite of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died.

Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a darling of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died. He was 85.

New England upbringing David Hackett Souter, an only child, was born in the Boston suburb of Melrose on Sept. 17, 1939. His father was an assistant bank manager, and his mother was a store clerk.

WASHINGTON — Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a darling of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died ...

WASHINGTON — Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a favorite of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died.

Souter died Thursday at his home in New Hampshire, the court said in a statement Friday. He retired from the court in June 2009, giving President Barack Obama his first Supreme Court vacancy to fill.

Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, the ascetic bachelor and New Hampshire Republican who became a darling of liberals during his nearly 20 years on the bench, has died. He was 85.