75-year-old Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, the oldest member of the Supreme Court and a prominent figure in its conservative bloc, was noticeably absent from oral arguments on Monday without any explanation given. The Chief Justice, John Roberts, announced that Thomas would participate in the day’s cases by reviewing transcripts and briefs, as reported by The Associated Press.
The Supreme Court did not provide a reason for Thomas’ absence from oral arguments, and he did not participate in the cases remotely either. Business Insider has reached out to the Supreme Court for further details on Thomas’ absence.
In recent years, it has been reported that Thomas had taken luxury vacations funded by billionaire Harlan Crow for over two decades without disclosing them. In response to this, Thomas stated that he was advised that it was not necessary to report this type of personal hospitality.
Thomas was hospitalized with an infection after experiencing flu-like symptoms in 2022. He has been serving as an Associate Justice since his nomination in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush and subsequent Senate confirmation. With the recent addition of conservative justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, Thomas’s influence on the court has increased significantly.
