Supreme Court of the United States
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1991
Present: Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice White, Justice Blackmun, Justice Stevens, Justice O Connor, Justice Scalia, Justice Kennedy, and Justice Souter.
The Chief Justice said:
Before calling the first case for argument this morning, it is appropriate for us to note that today, for the first time in twenty-four years, a Term of the Court commences without our colleague Justice Thurgood Marshall sitting beside us on the bench. Following his retirement this summer his colleagues on the Court joined in sending him a letter which reads as follows:
Supreme Court of the United States,
Chambers of The Chief Justice,
Washington, D. C., September 12, 1991.
Dear Thurgood:
Your decision to retire from the Court brings a sense of sorrow to all of us. For twenty-four years you have been a colleague, and for twenty-four years you have had an important voice in the shaping of the decisional law of this Court. We will miss your counsel in our future deliberations, and will likewise miss the innumerable "tall tales" with which you delighted us.
Everyone who sits on the Supreme Court will be remembered in the history of American constitutional law, but you are unique in having made major contributions to that law before becoming a member of the Court. Your role in the battle for equal treatment of the races would entitle you to a prominent place in that history had you never ascended the bench at all. You leave behind you landmarks from your career as a lawyer, as well as from your career as a judge.
We bid you farewell from our common labors, but look forward to your continued society off the bench. We trust that retirement at this time will help you regain the good health which is our wish for you.
Affectionately,
William H. Rehnquist
Byron R. White
Harry A. Blackmun
John Paul Stevens
Sandra O Connor
Antonin Scalia
Anthony M. Kennedy
David H. Souter
Justice Marshall said:
Supreme Court of the United States
Chambers of Justice Thurgood Marshall (Retired),
Washington, D. C., October 1, 1991.
Dear Colleagues:
Thank you for your gracious letter. As I read it, I was reminded of the wonderful times we have spent together both personally and professionally over the years. It has been a great honor for me to serve on the Court, and I am saddened that I must now give up the daily fare—the oral arguments, the Conference discussions, the opinions and dissents—that has provided me such enormous intellectual and emotional satisfaction for 24 years.
More than that, though, I am saddened that I will no longer have the opportunity to enjoy regular contact and communications with all of you. Your warmth and collegiality have been of great encouragement to me; I will miss that—and all of you—deeply.
Although I will not take part in the work ahead, I am hopeful the Court will meet the upcoming challenges, and I am grateful for the time we have spent together. Because of the bonds we have formed, I rest assured that though my active service on the Court ends, our ties of friendship hold fast.
Affectionately,
Thurgood
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Last modified: January 11, 2006