Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas did not attend oral arguments on Monday, and the court did not provide any explanation for his absence.
Chief Justice John Roberts announced that Justice Clarence Thomas would not be present in the court for arguments in the morning. However, Thomas would still participate in the cases by reviewing transcripts and briefs.
According to the report, Thomas, who is 75 years old, did not participate in remote arguments, which is a common option for justices who are sick or unable to be physically present at the Supreme Court building.
Business Insider has reached out to the Supreme Court for comment.
In 2022, Thomas was hospitalized due to an infection after he started experiencing symptoms similar to the flu.
Justice Thomas holds the distinction of being the court’s longest-serving associate justice. He was nominated by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 and confirmed by the Senate in the same year.
Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett’s appointments to the Supreme Court have significantly elevated Thomas’s judicial influence. As the eldest member of the court’s conservative bloc consisting of six members, he stands at the forefront of shaping the court’s decisions.
In a previous report by ProPublica, it was revealed that Thomas had been enjoying luxurious vacations for over two decades, all of which were funded by billionaire real estate developer Harlan Crow. Shockingly, Thomas had failed to disclose these trips during this time.
Thomas explained that he had been given advice that reporting “this type of personal hospitality” was unnecessary.
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