David Souter testifies during his 1990 Senate confirmation hearings.

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To 'Souter'

Extensive vetting of potential Supreme Court candidates has now become common, especially after the nomination of David Souter in 1990 by President Bush's father. The choice of Souter to replace the liberal William Brennan came as a complete surprise to both liberals and conservatives. His legal record was sparse, and few knew where he stood on key issues. He was labeled the "stealth nominee," and there was bipartisan hand wringing over what he would do on the bench. The country soon found out, as Souter has carved a mostly moderate-liberal position. That centrist stance has since outraged conservatives, and they have vowed never to be caught off guard with the next nominee. Groups of all political stripes now compile massive dossiers, ready to use the information as political weapons. To "Souter" has come to mean to pick a candidate without knowing much about him.