The Senate last week voted overwhelmingly to confirm the nomination of David H. Souter to succeed retired Associate Justice William J. Brennan Jr. on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Despite concern from some liberal Democrats about Judge Souter’s views on a range of constitutional issues, including abortion and civil rights, the federal appeals-court judge from New Hampshire was confirmed Oct. 2 with bipartisan support by a vote of 90 to 9. He was expected to be sworn in Oct. 9 to join the Supreme Court in the second week of its new term.
The nine Democratic Senators who opposed the nomination were: Brock Adams of Washington, Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii, Bill Bradley of New Jersey, Quentin N. Burdick of North Dakota, Alan Cranston of California, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey, and Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland. Senator Pete Wilson, Republican of California, did not vote.
In three days of testimony last month before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Souter offered few clues as to how he would rule on major education issues. (See Education Week, Sept. 26, 1990.)
