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Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by SMAZ on Tue Jan 15 05:39:53 2013

fiogf49gjkf0d
Justice Clarence Thomas breaks seven-year silence in court


By Liz Goodwin, Yahoo! News
National Affairs Reporter


Justice Clarence Thomas said four words in oral arguments on Monday, breaking his silence on the bench for the first time in nearly seven years.
The justice's remark came during a jocular exchange over whether a defense attorney in a death-penalty case was qualified for the job because of her Ivy League degree.

Based on the transcript, it appears Thomas' four-word retort made his colleagues laugh, but no one's really sure what he said:

JUSTICE SCALIA: She was a graduate of Yale law school, wasn't she?
[Louisiana lawyer Carla] SIGLER: She's a very impressive attorney.
JUSTICE SCALIA: And another of his counsel, Mr. Singer—of the three that he had—he was a graduate of Harvard law school, wasn't he?
MS. SIGLER: Yes, Your Honor.
JUSTICE SCALIA: Son of a gun.
JUSTICE THOMAS: Well—he did not -­
(Laughter)
MS. SIGLER: I would refute that, Justice Thomas.


Some who were in the courtroom said Thomas made fun of his alma mater, Yale, in his comment, which wasn't fully recorded in the transcript by the court reporter. Billy Freeland, a law student who attended the oral argument, wrote that he thought Thomas said, "That's not effective counsel," joking that going to Yale would not qualify an attorney. But John Derosier, a Louisiana district attorney who works with Carla Sigler on the case, told Yahoo News that she is not sure what Thomas' exact words were.
"As soon as he started saying anything people started laughing and then it messed it up," Derosier said.

The full audio of the exchange will be released on Monday.
Thomas has had a strained relationship with Yale, refusing his permission to let the school hang his portrait in its halls and writing that it was a mistake for him to attend the school. He wrote in his memoir that the school's use of affirmative action in admissions meant that employers assumed he was not as qualified as his white peers when he graduated. He's said he keeps the diploma in his basement instead of hanging in his office.

The last time Thomas spoke was also in a death-penalty case, when he asked a defense attorney in 2006 about whether racial stereotypes affected the case. The New York Times wrote in 2011 that Thomas has said he is self-conscious about his Georgia accent and has also complained that it's tough to get a word in edgewise during oral arguments because of his eight chatty colleagues. Before 2006, he asked questions at oral arguments around 10 times a year, still a far lower rate than his colleagues, before lapsing into total silence after that last death-penalty case question.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 09:00:54 2013, in response to Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by SMAZ on Tue Jan 15 05:39:53 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
He would make a great president.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 10:50:52 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 09:00:54 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Wrong. We need a President to uphold the Constitution, not attempt to impose a twisted agenda called "natural law" on the country. For that reason both he and Scalia do nto belong on th ecourt either. Never have, never will.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 11:08:08 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 10:50:52 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
I take it you do not like the honorable Clarence Thomas?

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 11:24:33 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 10:50:52 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Says you.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Grand concourse on Tue Jan 15 11:26:05 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 11:24:33 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
+1

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Railman718 on Tue Jan 15 11:30:08 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 11:08:08 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
There's nothing honorable about him..

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 12:36:22 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 11:24:33 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
The entire concept of "natural law" originates in Medieval Christian religious philosophies. It's far closer to Sharia law than what our Constitution has established as law in our country. Recognizing it starts a whole slippery slope. We don't want that.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 13:10:59 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Railman718 on Tue Jan 15 11:30:08 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
and there is nothing honorable about obama.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by WillD on Tue Jan 15 17:16:12 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 13:10:59 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
No, there's literally nothing honorable about the man. He believes his political enemies are out to get him and he sexually harassed a colleague.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 17:55:46 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 12:36:22 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Natural law has nothing to do with that. It has to do with recognizing what laws are basically the natural consequence of human society and which laws are created by humans to achieve some end.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Jeff Rosen on Tue Jan 15 18:20:27 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 10:50:52 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
We definitely need a President to uphold the Constitution because Obama certainly doesn't. As a matter of fact he's making a mockery of it.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 19:53:24 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Jeff Rosen on Tue Jan 15 18:20:27 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
In what way is he making a mockery of it? Cite specifics.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by mr mabstoa on Tue Jan 15 19:54:18 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by WillD on Tue Jan 15 17:16:12 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Who Bill Clinton?

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by AlM on Tue Jan 15 20:13:04 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 19:53:24 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Good luck getting an answer.

The only thing he's done that I can imagine getting overturned by the Supreme Court is the not-yet-finalized regs on requiring insurers of religious institution to offer contraception services to the employees.

Sending drones to target American citizens overseas simply on an executive finding is also questionable law, but I doubt Jeff is referring to that.


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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 20:22:02 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by WillD on Tue Jan 15 17:16:12 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
He also thinks that religious law (in this case Christian/Catholic equivalent of Sharia law) takes precedent over the Constitution.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Tue Jan 15 20:29:49 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 20:22:02 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Not even "Judeo-Christian" whatever THAT is. :)

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 21:23:55 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by bingbong on Tue Jan 15 20:22:02 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Not quite.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Railman718 on Tue Jan 15 23:28:43 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 13:10:59 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Let me know when this president sexually harasses a woman then we can bring this up again...

Savvy?

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Fred G on Wed Jan 16 00:51:39 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by chicagomotorman on Tue Jan 15 13:10:59 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Obama is a decent guy and a family man. Guys like you pile shit on him because he's not on your team just like you pile shit on us because we're not on your team. America would be a better place without you; that's why I support the Second Amendment :)

your pal,
Fred

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(1027141)

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jan 16 09:16:50 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Fred G on Wed Jan 16 00:51:39 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Keep drinking the kool-aid.

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(1027156)

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Fred G on Wed Jan 16 10:14:25 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by chicagomotorman on Wed Jan 16 09:16:50 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
I'm not drinking any kool-aid. Obama is a decent guy and a good American.

your pal,
Fred

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(1027160)

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by bingbong on Wed Jan 16 11:41:17 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Fred G on Wed Jan 16 10:14:25 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Seriously. Let's not forget that an actual majority of Americans agree. Time to stand aside and let real America loving Americans fix the problems that......your bunch made.

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by AlM on Wed Jan 16 11:52:10 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Jan 15 19:53:24 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
No answer, as expected.


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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of

Posted by Fred G on Wed Jan 16 12:11:29 2013, in response to Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by AlM on Wed Jan 16 11:52:10 2013.

fiogf49gjkf0d
Jeff's out dropping mail off and not at a desk where he can respond quickly.

your pal,
Fred

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Re: Clarence Thomas Speaks…Sort Of?

Posted by Olog-hai on Mon Mar 24 23:19:32 2025, in response to Clarence Thomas Speaks....Sort Of, posted by SMAZ on Tue Jan 15 05:39:53 2013.

Lefties cannot hold back from expressing their vile racism.

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