Retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer tells reporters he thinks his colleague Justice Clarence Thomas is “fine,” despite Thomas’ hospitalization for flu-like symptoms and infection.
QUICK FACTS:
- Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer was reassuring to reporters when asked about Justice Clarence Thomas’ hospitalization.
- Reporters from TMZ flagged down the justice on Wednesday asking about his colleague and Breyer said he didn’t believe Thomas was in any danger.
- Thomas was hospitalized on Friday due to infection and flu-like symptoms and has been treated with IV antibiotics.
- The SCOTUS Public Information Office said they expected Thomas to be released on Tuesday, but as of late Wednesday, there was no word about his release.
WHAT ELSE BREYER SAID:
- Aside from insisting that his colleague was “fine” and seeming to indicate that Thomas would be back to full power soon, Breyer was asked to comment about his replacement on the bench.
- The 83-year-old soon-to-retire Supreme Court justice said of the confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, “Their politics is not my affair. My affair is done.”
BACKGROUND:
- Among the current justices, Thomas has served the longest having spent over 30 years on the bench, which is almost double the historical average of around 16 years for Supreme Court justices.
- According to Fox News, Thomas is also thought to be the most conservative justice, despite his iconic lack of chattiness from the bench.
