Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter died Thursday at the age of 85, the Court said in a statement.

Souter was appointed to the Court by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and retired in 2009.

“Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years,” Chief Justice John Roberts said. “He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service. After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade. He will be greatly missed.” 

The Court’s statement did not give a cause of death, saying only that he died “peacefully” at his New Hampshire home.

Souter, despite having been appointed by a Republican president, often sided with the Court’s liberal justices, including in the  landmark Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision. His allyship with the Court’s left wing led to the call for “no more Souters” when Republican President George W. Bush had the opportunity to appoint Supreme Court justices.

Souter was born in Melrose, Mass., on Sept. 17, 1939. 

A graduate of Harvard College, he went on to receive degrees from Oxford University and Harvard Law School.

He was named an associate justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire in 1978 and later became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire in 1983.

Seven years later, he became a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

“In addition to hearing cases on the First Circuit, Justice Souter participated in civics education curriculum reform efforts in New Hampshire during his retirement,” the Court said. 

When Souter retired in 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Sonia Sotomayor to fill his seat.