WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- After more than 18 years on the nation 's highest court , Supreme Court Justice David Souter is retiring , a source close to Souter told CNN Thursday . David Souter has served more than 18 years on the Supreme Court . Souter will leave after the current court term recesses in June , the source said . Filling Souter 's seat would be President Barack Obama 's first Supreme Court appointment -- and the first since George W. Bush 's picks of Samuel Alito in 2006 and Chief Justice John Roberts in 2005 . Souter , 69 , was tapped for the court by President George H.W . Bush in 1990 , but disappointed many conservatives when he turned out to be a typical old-fashioned Yankee Republican -- a moderate , with an independent , even quirky streak . Souter 's departure will leave the two oldest justices -- and the most liberal -- still on the bench . Retirements for John Paul Stevens , 89 , and Ruth Bader Ginsburg , 76 , have been rumored for years , with many expecting that one or the other would be the first to give a new Democratic president a Supreme Court vacancy . Souter 's decision came as something of a surprise , although he has long been known to prefer the quiet of his New Hampshire farmhouse to the bustle of the nation 's capital . CNN 's Bill Mears contributed to this report .
Souter will leave after the current court term recesses in June , source says . Souter 's replacement would be President Obama 's first Supreme Court appointment . Souter , 69 , was tapped by President George H.W . Bush , disappointed conservatives . He is a conservative who has written opinions that have been controversial on issues such as abortion and affirmative action.