Clarence Thomas Absent From Supreme Court Without Explanation

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was absent from the court Monday with no explanation, the AP reports. Thomas, 75, also was not participating remotely in arguments, as justices sometimes do when they are ill or otherwise can't be there in person. Chief Justice John Roberts announced Thomas' absence, saying that his colleague would still "participate fully" in the day's cases, based on the briefs and transcripts of the arguments. The court sometimes, but not always, provides an explanation when a justice is out, such as being out sick, CNN reports.

The high court was hearing arguments in two cases Monday, one of them a challenge to the scope of the federal anti-bribery law, Reuters reports. Thomas was hospitalized two years ago with an infection, causing him to miss several court sessions. He took part in the cases then, too. He is the longest serving of the current justices, joining the Supreme Court in 1991.

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