Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at a judicial conference in Alabama, rebutting his critics and lamenting the “nastiness” and “lies” directed at him. He called Washington a “hideous place” and said he was simply doing his job despite criticism.
Thomas and his wife, Ginni, have been criticized for their efforts to reverse the 2020 presidential election and for accepting private jet travel and vacations from a Republican megadonor. Thomas has also been criticized for not recusing himself from Supreme Court cases involving the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Clarence Thomas rebuts critics, laments “nastiness” in Washington, and asserts duty while addressing the judicial conference.
Thomas said he was not courageous but simply doing his job and that it would be a disservice to soldiers and first responders not to make decisions with a lifetime appointment.
He also spoke about the loss of trust within the Supreme Court, citing the leak of a draft abortion opinion in 2022. Thomas said the court was once a “dysfunctional family” but now it was inconceivable that anyone would leak an opinion or harm one another.
Thomas also raised concerns about the Supreme Court’s applications docket, saying it short circuits the court’s process and does not allow for thorough consideration of difficult issues. He said he had learned to accept that his critics could not change him unless he permitted it, and that he would not react with “nastiness for nastiness.”
