别了，特立独行的苏特大法官

 

 

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别了，特立独行的苏特大法官

via 我们微笑的样子 by 何帆 on 5/4/09

 

 

 

4月30日，全美公共广播电台传出联邦最高法院苏特大法官即将退休的消息，5月1日，消息得到确认，总统奥巴马宣布，他已接到苏特的离职信，后者将在今年6月末，也就是最高法院2008-2009开庭期末正式退休，这就意味着，奥巴马将获得履任来第一次任命大法官的机会。

 

在联邦最高法院九位大法官中，戴维·苏特算得上一位特立独行的隐士。他虽然才69岁，却更像一位生活在18世纪的人物。他不喜远行，除了华盛顿，多数时间都在新罕布什尔州的家中独处。他排斥一切现代化工具，包括传真、手机或电邮。朋友曾送苏特一台电视，可他连插头都没动过。由于从不使用电脑，他的判决意见都是用钢笔写出，再由法官助理输入。

 

更独特的是，苏特一直单身，是华盛顿著名的"钻石王老五"，包括前第一夫人芭芭拉·布什在内的许多名媛，都曾为他牵线做媒，却都以失败而告终。华盛顿社交圈盛传一个段子：某日，一位大法官同僚成功说服苏特携一名女伴出席宴会，当晚，女伴与苏特相谈甚欢。苏特送她回家时也十分开心，临别时，这位老光棍却对人家来上一句："明年这个时候，我们再一起出来玩儿吧。"不过，可别因此认为苏特是位不通世事的迂腐之人，他习惯于自得其乐，在自己的小天地内寻找乐趣，这也正是他的魅力所在。

 

关于苏特的冷幽默，最高法院还曾流行过这么一个段子：尽管苏特与布雷耶大法官并不相像，但外人还是常把他俩弄混。一次，苏特独自驾车从华盛顿赶往新罕布什尔州，中途停在马萨诸塞州吃午饭。一对陌生人夫妇走到他跟前，问道："您是在最高法院工作么？"

 

苏特点头称是。

 

"您是布雷耶大法官，对吗？"陌生人问。

 

为了不让别人尴尬，苏特只好再次点头，并开始与对方闲扯，直到对方问了他一个出乎意料的问题。

 

"布雷耶大法官，什么是您在最高法院期间最开心的事情？"

 

苏特想了想，然后说："嗯，我不得不承认，我最开心的事情就是有幸能和戴维·苏特共事。"

 

在司法领域，苏特时常前走偏锋，所作所为往往令保守派人士大跌眼镜。1990年，苏特本是作为保守派候选人，由共和党总统老布什提名出任大法官。保守派大法官多数反对堕胎，支持推翻罗伊诉韦德案。所以，苏特就职前夕，全国妇女组织曾四处散发传单，上面写着："苏特上，妇女亡！"

 

然而，总统与妇女组织都看走了眼，苏特上任之后，以维护宪法隐私权为己任，积极支持堕胎，并团结其它自由派大法官，及时拯救了罗伊案，令保守派大失所望。在此后一系列案件中，苏特逐渐显示出中间偏自由派的立场，成为平衡最高法院意识形态之争的重要砝码，表现出高超的司法技艺。

 

尽管苏特很少接触高科技产品，但米高梅公司诉格罗斯特案这起著名网络侵权案的判决意见，却出自他手，该判决赢得学界、业界的一致支持，显示出他对科技市场的深刻洞察。在一次演讲中，苏特曾说："每位法官的共同义务在于：对简单案件的猜疑，对普遍公理的质疑，对既往先例的谦抑，以及不受现实环境约束，勇敢挑战权威原理的勇气。"事实上，这也正是苏特大法官生涯的自我写照。

 

问题在于，与九十高龄的斯蒂文斯、身患癌症的金斯伯格等自由派大法官相比，苏特年富力强，身体健康，为什么反而是他先提出辞职呢？其实，对了解苏特的人来说，他的离职并不让人奇怪。苏特诚实正直，性格温和，从不在判决书中使用刻薄字眼，内心也无任何党派偏见，然而，自2000年布什诉戈尔案以来，最高法院越来越浓的政治气氛，令苏特非常反感。在他心目中，联邦最高法院，几乎已经堕落为"最高政治法院"。他不止一次对朋友表示，自己不愿与那些派性意识太强的大法官共事。

 

同样，作为保守派一方的"叛徒"。保守派势力对苏特也从不客气。2005年，由于苏特在凯洛诉新伦敦城案中支持政府征用土地，保守派甚至怂恿苏特家乡政府没收他的私用农场。事实上，苏特从来都不太喜欢华盛顿。2004年4月30日，苏特在晚间慢跑时，曾遭遇两名陌生男子袭击，被揍得鼻青脸肿，袭击原因至今成谜。这件事也加剧了苏特对华盛顿的厌恶。

 

尽管苏特早想辞职，却不愿把提名大法官的机会留给共和党。如今，奥巴马成为总统，苏特对大法官职位终于再无留恋，可以安心把位置让出，回家乡养老。

 

不过，如果退休的不是保守派大法官，无论辞职的是苏特、金斯伯格，还是斯蒂文斯，最高法院内部的政治格局都不会发生太大变化。目前的最高法院，仍然保持着中间偏保守的政治倾向。对奥巴马来说，选择一位自由派大法官是必然的。人们的疑问只在于，即将产生的，是一位新的女性大法官？还是第一位西班牙裔大法官？

 

PS:其他八位大法官的表态：

 

 

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.:

 

Justice Souter has served with great distinction on the Court for nearly 20 years.  His desire to return to his native New Hampshire is understandable, but he will be greatly missed in our deliberations.

 

 

Associate Justice John Paul Stevens:

      

As Justice Blackmun accurately stated when Justice White advised us of his proposed retirement from the Court, an announcement of this kind "is an emotional occasion."  Because Justice Souter is such a good friend, my first reaction to his decision is one of real personal loss.  Because I am confident that I know how his professional work will be judged by future historians, my more important reaction is that the Court will suffer a far greater loss than many now realize.  I wish he had postponed the decision that he has just announced.

 

 

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia:

 

David and I have served on this bench together for almost 20 years — sitting next to each other at argument for all of that time.  I will miss his always intelligent contribution to our work, but most of all I will miss his companionship.  The only consolation is that I am sure he will be happy back in his cold and beloved New Hampshire.

 

      

Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy:

 

The two months remaining in this term now become all the more precious to us, for we know our splendid colleague Justice David H. Souter will soon leave here for the home and the State to which he longs to return.  In our free moments David was one of the best raconteurs, one of the most adept and amusing storytellers, I have ever encountered.  In our conferences and deliberations all of us knew we had the guidance of a powerful intellect and a fine, dedicated jurist.  The Nation should be grateful always for his integrity and absolute probity, and for his lasting contributions to our law and to the dignity of this Court.

 

      

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas:

      

I have been privileged to serve on the Court with Justice Souter for almost two decades. It is an honor to have been one of his colleagues at the Court. Though deeply saddened by the departure of a friend and colleague, I am comforted by the knowledge that the bonds of friendship that have been formed during our toils here shall happily remain firm.  Virginia and I wish him much happiness and contentment.

 

 

Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

 

Among jurists with whom I have served, Justice David H. Souter is the very best.  His level of preparation for the cases we consider is astonishing.  He works so hard at getting it right.  He is a genuinely caring man and a model of civility.  Never have I heard him utter a harsh or unkind word.  I count it my great good fortune to have known him as a working colleague and dear friend.

 

 

Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer:

 

       As a member of this court, Justice Souter has given nineteen years of inspirational service to the Nation.  David is a close colleague and a warm personal friend.  I shall miss him here.  So will we all.

      

 

Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito:

 

I was sad to hear of David Souter's decision to retire from the Court.  From my first day on the Court, he has been a wonderful colleague.  He has dedicated so many years to exemplary judicial service.  We will miss him deeply.

 

 

 

 

 

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