Constitution
Clarence Thomas: The Court’s Leading Constitutionalist

Clarence Thomas: The Court’s Leading Constitutionalist

In an age when activist judges make law rather than abide by it, Justice Clarence Thomas stands out as a jewel on the Supreme Court. ...
Steve Byas

In May 2000, Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at a dinner function of the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs, a conservative think tank. His topic was mostly his judicial philosophy. 

Answering questions after the speech, Thomas responded to a query from a state politician who asked, “Isn’t the Constitution a living, changing document?” Thomas answered, “His may be living and breathing, but mine’s inanimate.”

Another person asked Justice Thomas which cases he found the most difficult to decide. “The hard case,” Thomas responded, “is where your heart really wants to do something for somebody and the law says you have no authority. That’s when you see whether or not you are a judge or you’re lawless.”

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