FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas told attendees at a judicial conference Friday that he and his wife have dealt with “trouble” and “lies” in recent years and called Washington, D.C., a “horrible place.”
Thomas spoke at a conference attended by judges, attorneys and other court personnel in the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference, which hears federal cases from Alabama, Florida and Georgia. He pushed back on his critics with his comments in response to a question about working in a world that seems small-minded.
“I think there are challenges with that. We live in a world and we – especially my wife and I over the last two or three years – just the filth and the lies, it’s just unbelievable,” Thomas said.
‘But you have some choices. You can’t stop people from doing horrible things or saying horrible things. But you have to understand and accept the fact that they cannot change you unless you let them,” Thomas said.
Thomas was criticized for accepting luxury trips from a GOP donor without reporting them. Thomas claimed last year that he did not have to report trips paid for by one of “our dearest friends.” His wife, conservative activist Ginni Thomas, has faced criticism for using her Facebook page to amplify baseless claims of corruption by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
He did not directly discuss the substance of the criticism, but said “reckless” people in Washington will “bomb your reputation.”
“They don’t necessarily bomb you, but they do bomb your reputation, your good name or your honor. And that’s not a crime. But that way they can do just as much damage,” Thomas said.
During the appearance, Thomas was asked questions by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, one of Thomas’ former law clerks who was later appointed to the federal bench. During his hour-long appearance, the court’s longest-serving judge discussed a wide range of topics, including the lessons of his grandfather, his friendship with former colleagues and his belief that judicial writings and discussions should be more accessible to “ordinary people.” ”
Thomas, who spent most of his working life in Washington DC, also discussed his distaste for it.
“I think what you’re going to find, and especially in Washington, people pride themselves on being terrible. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a horrible place,” Thomas said. Thomas said this is one of the reasons he and his wife “love RVing.”
“You come into contact with ordinary people who are not proud of doing harmful things just because they have the capacity to do so or because they don’t agree with it,” Thomas said.
A recreational vehicle used by Thomas also became a source of controversy. Senate Democrats released a report in October saying that most of the $267,000 loan Thomas received to buy a luxury motorcoach appears to have been forgiven.
Thomas did not discuss the court’s high-profile cases.
The judge said he thought it was important to use language in court decisions so that the law is accessible to the average person.
“I think sometimes ordinary people are disenfranchised by the way we talk about issues,” Thomas said.
Thomas wasn’t the only judge to speak Friday.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh said Friday that American history shows that judicial decisions that were unpopular in their time can later become part of the “fabric of American constitutional law.”
Kavanaugh spoke Friday at a conference attended by judges, attorneys and other court staff on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and is one of the most conservative circuits.
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Jim Vertuno contributed to this report from Austin.