Justice Souter's Retirement

The big political news from late last week (it was a big news week for politics last week) was the announcement that Justice David Souter was going to retire from the U.S. Supreme Court. This will give President Obama his first appointment to the high court, and only the third vacancy on the court since 1994. Any significant change to the ideological make up of the court is unlikely, as Justice Souter was generally a more liberal member of the court. Also, the Senate confirmation should not be that difficult, as the Democrats have a nearly filibuster proof majority (as long as they can hold ranks).