WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas was not on the bench Monday as the eight other justices heard arguments, with no reason given for his absence.
Thomas, 75, is the court’s oldest and longest-serving member and part of its 6-3 conservative majority. He was appointed to America’s highest court in 1991 by Republican President George HW Bush. .
Chief Justice John Roberts noted Thomas’ absence at the start of proceedings in the first of two cases brought before the court Monday, but did not offer an explanation. Roberts said Thomas would “participate fully” in the cases using written legal briefs and transcripts of arguments.
A court spokeswoman did not provide additional information.
The court often gives a reason for a judge’s absence, including illness.
One of the cases brought before the court Monday involved a challenge to the scope of a federal anti-corruption law involving James Snyder, the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, who is appealing his conviction.
Thomas previously missed matches in March 2022 when he was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms and diagnosed with an infection.
(Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York and John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)
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