New Delhi, May 9 -- Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, known for his ascetic lifestyle and steady liberal voting record, passed away at the age of 85 on Thursday (May 9) at his home in New Hampshire. His death was confirmed by the Supreme Court in a statement released on Friday.

Souter was appointed to the Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. Initially seen as a moderate conservative, Souter's tenure on the Court ultimately leaned toward liberal decisions, particularly in areas like abortion rights, church-state relations, and freedom of expression. His most notable work came in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, where he joined a ruling reaffirming a woman's right to an abortion.

In a 2012 interv...