Justice Thomas turns talkative in telephone arguments after years of mostly silence
Image from Shutterstock.com. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is showing his personality in oral arguments questioning, a turnabout from past years when he stayed mostly silent. Thomas appears to have taken to the Supreme Court’s remote arguments, switching “from monkish silence to gregarious engagement,” according to the New York Times. The arguments have taken place by telephone since May 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article noted that justices now ask questions in order of seniority. In the past, Thomas has complained that the justices’ barrage of questions aren’t helpful, and Supreme Court advocates should have a chance to advocate.