Well, sort of.
Clarence Thomas, who is not known for his loquacious presence on the Supreme Court, finally opened his mouth. During oral arguments on January 14, 2013, the Supreme Court Justice made a comment about attorneys trained at either his alma mater Yale Law School or Harvard Law. It appears the court reporter could not decipher his comments due to the cross-talking by the other justices. The transcript revealed that there was laughter in response of Thomas' comment.
Apparently, he is a joker.
Thomas made his comments during a line of questioning about the the qualifications of the attorneys representing a Louisiana man in a murder case. Two of the attorneys attended Harvard and Yale law schools. Check out the transcript:
JUSTICE SCALIA: She was a graduate of Yale law school, wasn't she?
MS. 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.
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: Counsel, do you want to define constitutionally adequate counsel? Is it anybody who's graduated from Harvard and Yale?
(Laughter.)
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: Or even just passed the Bar?
MS. SIGLER: Or LSU law.
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: I would think -- no, no, no.
It seems that Thomas made a gibe about the attorneys' ivy league educations. In his book, "My Grandfather's Son," Thomas wrote that he placed a 15 cent price sticker on his Yale Law School degree and stored it in the basement. All of the Supreme Court justices have graduated from either Harvard or Yale.
The last time Justice Thomas posed a question to an attorney during oral arguments was on February 22, 2006.
Read more.
The last time Justice Thomas posed a question to an attorney during oral arguments was on February 22, 2006.
Read more.
