Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas was absent from oral arguments on Monday, without providing an explanation. In response to Thomas’ absence, the court did not offer any reasons for his non-attendance. After the morning arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts made the announcement regarding Thomas not being present and indicated that Thomas would be involved remotely through transcripts and briefs. This is an option often used by justices when they are unwell or unable to physically attend the Supreme Court building.
Thomas, who is 75 years old, is the oldest member of the court and plays a crucial role in the influential conservative bloc. Business Insider has attempted to contact the Supreme Court for further information about Thomas’ absence. Last year, it was revealed that Thomas had been taking luxury vacations funded by a billionaire real estate developer, Harlan Crow, for over 20 years without disclosing the trips. Thomas defended himself at that time by stating that he was advised that it was not necessary to report this type of personal hospitality.
Thomas was appointed as an associate justice in 1991 by then-President George H.W. Bush and has since been confirmed by the Senate. With the recent appointments to the Supreme Court, Thomas’ influence has increased as the senior member of the six-member conservative bloc. Despite this, some critics have accused him of being too close to wealthy donors like Crow and have called for greater transparency in his financial dealings.
