"to souter"

[Benjamin Zimmer]

http://slate.msn.com/id/2125224/
the has-been, By Bruce Reed
Friday, Sept. 2, 2005
One of the more unfortunate verbs in the English language — to bork — now
has company. Today's Washington Post joins other news organizations in
popularizing a verb that will strike equal fear in conservatives and
linguists alike: "John Roberts, though, may be well on his way to being
'soutered.'" It's a double whammy for William Safire.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/supreme.court/interactive/scenarios/content.11.html
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.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/01/AR2005090102371_4.html
John Roberts, though, may be well on his way to being "soutered." Where
Bork was outspoken, David H. Souter, elevated to the Supreme Court in
1990, was reserved. So is Roberts. Where Bork left a paper trail, Souter
had little to be read. Although Roberts's work as a lawyer in both the
Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations is well documented, he has a
short record as a judge.


--Ben Zimmer