At the end of the landmark session of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. took time to announce retirements — not of justices, but of longtime court employees. Topping the list was Court Clerk William Suter, 75, who transformed the office into an efficient, lawyer-friendly operation.
Always ready to help nervous advocates — handing out cough drops and sewing kits for emergencies — Suter was the friendly face of the court to the legal profession. Formerly Judge Advocate General of the Army, Suter has joked that he was probably the only person who knew both Elvis Presley and Colin Powell. (Suter was in basic training with Presley.)
