Justice Clarence Thomas speaks on the bench after years of silence
January 14th, 2013
03:03 PM ET

Justice Clarence Thomas speaks on the bench after years of silence

He speaks.

Justice Clarence Thomas spoke from the bench Monday during a Supreme Court session, ending a nearly seven-year span of silence.

And he broke his streak to seemingly mock his alma mater, Yale, by making a joke about the competence of Yale lawyers when compared to their Harvard colleagues, according to two witnesses.

Thomas is known for being one of the less boisterous justices on the high court. He often leans back in his chair and stares at the ceiling. He uses written opinions to express himself.

The last time he spoke during oral arguments was February 22, 2006, in a capital appeal, Holmes v. South Carolina. Near the end of the argument, Thomas offered a brief question about standards a judge can use when allowing evidence in a criminal case.

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Filed under: Courts • Justice
soundoff (5 Responses)
  1. Chrissy

    That CANNOT possibly be s kel @ 4:29!

    January 14, 2013 at 5:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • philip

      it was not me dear, it was a clown, i think i know who

      January 14, 2013 at 11:43 pm | Report abuse |
  2. vincentfarrellartist

    you have a point but this guy was put on the Supreme Court by George H.W. Bush he literally is a total joke of a Supreme Court Justice. I think the guy s crazy.

    January 14, 2013 at 10:15 pm | Report abuse |
  3. philip

    im sorry all, boo hoo. Im no good

    January 14, 2013 at 11:41 pm | Report abuse |
  4. John Melland

    Seem's to me he should speak more, given his position and his career. I wouldn't want a judge not to speak to me if I was there!

    January 15, 2013 at 10:17 am | Report abuse |
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