Jeffrey Toobin: Clarence Thomas Disgraceful Silence (Eight Years Now)

[Hissyspit]

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2014/02/clarence-thomas-disgraceful-silence.html

February 21, 2014
CLARENCE THOMAS’S DISGRACEFUL SILENCE

POSTED BY JEFFREY TOOBIN

As of this Saturday, February 22nd, eight years will have passed since Clarence Thomas last asked a question during a Supreme Court oral argument. His behavior on the bench has gone from curious to bizarre to downright embarrassing, for himself and for the institution he represents.

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As for Thomas, he is physically transformed from his infamous confirmation hearings, in 1991—a great deal grayer and heavier today, at the age of sixty-five. He also projects a different kind of silence than he did earlier in his tenure. In his first years on the Court, Thomas would rock forward, whisper comments about the lawyers to his neighbors Breyer and Kennedy, and generally look like he was acknowledging where he was. These days, Thomas only reclines; his leather chair is pitched so that he can stare at the ceiling, which he does at length. He strokes his chin. His eyelids look heavy. Every schoolteacher knows this look. It’s called “not paying attention.”

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[Loudly]

1. Potted plant token stooge disgraces the memory of Thurgood Marshall.

I really REALLY hope PBO gets the opportunity to replace both Thomas and Scalia.

[davidpdx]

15. Me too

The day Scalia kicks the bucket it is going to be VERY hard for me not to celebrate.

[BeyondGeography]

2. A bitter old fraud

Nice to see him called on it. Not that anything will come of it.

[Diamonique]

3. Can't stand the man. n/t

[zappaman]

4. Fuck that guy.

Feeling very eloquent today...

[Whisp]

8. lol. you made me laugh out loud for real. n/t

[Chorophyll]

5. Reprehensible behavior.

There's really something wrong with him.

[dsc]

6. He is a horrible Justice but that isn't why

I have to say I am a big believer in the questioning of the lawyers but for some other people do better with reading briefs.

[kwassa]

7. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

attributed to both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain.

I always think of this quote when Justice Thomas's lack of participation in oral arguments is noted.

[1StrongBlackMan]

9. Why should he ask any questions ...

or even hear the arguments ... He knows how he's going to rule before the case is heard.

[KG]

10. dimmest bulb ever to be appointed. he has no business being there...

[JBoy]

11. His wife should leave him a voicemail, and tell him to apologize. n/t

[madinmaryland]

12. I remember watching a case being argued in person at the Supreme court several years ago.

It was really interesting to watch the discussion and banter among the Justices. All of the Justices were part of the proceedings except for one.

Thomas did exactly what has been discussed before, though I don't think he was sleeping. He basically spent his two one hour arguements ignoring what was going on in the court. All of the other Justices were very involved with the discussion of the case they were hearing.

Just really bizarre.

BTW, Justice Ginsburg, who had just had a scare with cancer, was a very powerful voice from the bench.

[rurallib]

13. to his credit he seldom snores

[SwankyXomb]

14. Eight years?

At what point can we have him declared legally dead?

[Marie Marie]

16. Good one.

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