Clarence Thomas Absent From Supreme Court Without Explanation

The justice missed Monday's high court session
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 16, 2024 12:30 AM CDT
Clarence Thomas Absent From High Court With No Explanation
FILE - Associate Justice Clarence Thomas joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

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.

(More Clarence Thomas stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X