Article: POWELL ANNOUNCES DECISION TO EXIT SUPREME COURT POST / SURPRISES WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON (AP) - Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell, a moderate who has been the pivotal vote in many of the court's close decisions, Friday announced he is retiring from the nation's highest court.

The announcement was such a surprise that the White House learned of his intentions only Friday morning.

Powell, who has suffered from prostate cancer, made the announcement in a printed statement shortly after he left the bench for the last time.

``I have advised the chief justice and associate justices that I have elected to retire as an associate justice. The president will be advised today,'' the statement said.

At a later news conference, he told reporters, ``Today is one of ...

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