Justice Souter Claims He’s Flattered by Name Mix-up
The Colorado attorney general got the name wrong when he addressed Justice David H. Souter during oral arguments on Monday—but at least he wasn’t the first to do so.
The attorney general, John Suthers, addressed Souter as “Justice Ginsburg,” drawing nervous laughter, Legal Times reports. Souter sits next to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“I’m greatly flattered,” Souter responded. “You’re not the first to have done that.”
Legal Times says Souter wasn’t merely being polite. Last year, another lawyer also addressed Souter as Ginsburg. Other advocates have confused Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel A. Alito Jr., as well as Ginsburg and then-Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Last year’s Souter-Ginsburg mix-up has made it into Ginsburg’s speeches; she says she hopes there will soon be another female justice on the court so lawyers can confuse the two of them.
