Once a Lowellian, always a Lowellian.

Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter '61 appeared yesterday at a Constitution Day panel discussion titled "The U.S. Constitution: What Should We Celebrate and What Should We Criticize?"

FlyBy couln't help but notice that Justice Souter--who turned 70 yesterday-- had traded in his somber black robe for a snappy Lowell House tie.

Besides weighing in on a discussion on judicial philosophy, Justice Souter reminisced on lectures he had attended in Emerson Hall--where yesterday's event occurred-- and named English Professor Louis Menand as a personal hero of his.

Following the three-hour event, the birthday boy made his way over to the Masters' Tea at Lowell House, joking that his tie was actually his "ticket" into his old home, which he vists when in town.

Photo: Luis Urbina