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Clarence Thomas Misses Monday Supreme Court Session, No Explanation

April 15, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses for an official portrait in the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court Building on October 7, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court began its new term in September with Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson officially added to the bench. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

OAN’s Brooke Mallory
3:01 PM – Monday, April 15, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas did not appear for Monday’s oral argument and did not give a reason.

He joined the Supreme Court in 1991.

Chief Justice John Roberts declared Thomas, 75, “not to participate” shortly after the court convened for arguments Monday morning.

The first lawsuit Monday challenged whether payments made by a city contractor to the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, violated federal anti-corruption laws. In the second case, a jewelry store manager in Ohio sued police, claiming there was no probable cause to detain him on money laundering charges.

Until now, courts have often given explanations by referring to, for example, the judge’s illness. These justices sometimes participate in arguments remotely if they are unable to attend in person.

He is the oldest senior justice on the Supreme Court, and missed multiple debates in 2022 after being diagnosed with an infectious disease.

However, the 75-year-old’s recent absences appear to have caused concern for many prominent commentators and journalists on X (Twitter).

Supreme Court Mystery: Clarence Thomas Missing from Oral Arguments

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was not present during Monday’s oral argument, and the court did not provide an explanation for his absence.

Thomas is “not on the bench today”… pic.twitter.com/zewXwhpozE

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) April 15, 2024