“Justice David H. Souter has today sent the attached letter to the White House notifying President Barack Obama of his retirement from the Supreme Court effective when the Supreme Court rises for the summer recess this year.” So states a news release that the Public Information Office of the U.S. Supreme Court issued this afternoon. Justice Souter’s letter can be viewed at this link.

Neil A. Lewis of The New York Times has a news update headlined “Women and Minorities Seen as a Focus of Search.”

Robert Barnes of The Washington Post has news updates headlined “Obama Announces Justice Souter Is Retiring” and “Replacement Speculation Begins.”

Linda Feldmann and Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor have an article headlined “In replacing Souter, how far left will Obama go? He’ll face pressure from his liberal base in his pick for the Supreme Court.”

Michael Doyle of McClatchy Newspapers reports that “Souter tells White House that he’ll retire from Supreme Court.”

The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “Obama mum on first Supreme Court appointment; Justice David Souter’s pending retirement sparks intense speculation; His replacement is unlikely to alter the court’s ideological balance.”

The Associated Press reports that “Obama hopes to replace Justice Souter by October“; “Justice Souter to leave ‘best job’ in ‘worst city’“; and “Souter’s home state glad to have him back.”

CNN.com has reports headlined “Souter notifies White House of retirement plans“; “Conservatives prepare for Supreme battle“; and “Souter news sets off succession speculation.” In addition, Jeffrey Toobin opines that “Obama likely to pick a woman for Souter seat.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Souter announces retirement.”

“Souter Reportedly Planning to Retire From High Court; Justice Might Stay Until Nominee Confirmed”: Robert Barnes has this article today in The Washington Post.

Today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage reports that “Souter to retire from Supreme Court; The liberal justice is expected to step down this summer; Some legal experts speculate that Obama will nominate a woman to fill Souter’s spot on the high court.”

The New York Times reports that “Souter Said to Be Leaving Court in June.”

Jess Bravin and Evan Perez of The Wall Street Journal report that “Justice Souter to Retire From Court.”

law.com’s Tony Mauro reports that “Souter Retirement Reports Stir Speculation on Obama Court Pick.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Tom Goldstein has a post titled “Justice Souter’s Retirement and Where We Go from Here.”

“Shock, Sadness Over Death of Kilpatrick Stockton’s Mark Levy in Apparent Suicide; Supreme Court advocate was a former deputy assistant AG during the Clinton administration”: law.com has this report.