Souter gets big retirement bucks for frugal life

Federal judges can retire on full salary - $213,900 for justices this year - at David Souter's age and experience.

Souter said he plans to keep working as a judge. He is eligible to help federal appeals courts around the country, as retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has done since her retirement in 2006.

He doesn't have much need for the money. Apart from his seemingly frugal lifestyle, Souter was worth between $6 million and $30 million, according to his financial disclosure from June 2008. His largest asset reported was shares worth $5 million to $25 million in Chittendon Corp. of Burlington, Vt., a regional banking company.

He was at the court Friday for the justices' scheduled private conference to discuss pending cases. He sent Obama his retirement letter from his chambers on the court's second floor.

The court meets in public session on Monday. The following day, Souter is scheduled to speak at a conference of lawyers and judges in Philadelphia that is open to reporters, but not to cameras or audio recorders.