The U.S. Supreme Court's nine active and two of its retired justices on Wednesday described the late John Paul Stevens as “brilliant,” “pragmatic” and “humane.”

The high court is often described by justices and employees as a close family, and Stevens's death Tuesday at age 99 appeared particularly poignant for the justices with whom he served the longest.

Stevens was particularly close to retired Justice David Souter on whom, Stevens once revealed, he relied to tell the older justice when it was time for him to retire. But, Stevens noted with a laugh at the time, Souter retired first.

Souter, whose statement was the shortest, captured his friend's essence this way: “He was the soul of principle and an irreplaceable friend.”

The justices statements are posted below:

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