Weather Report

The forecast calls for pain.

On the Bench

A news item in the February 22 Los Angeles Times caught my attention. The reporter, David Savage, mentions that during a lively discussion at the U.S. Supreme Court that week, eight justices were active participants, adding that "one justice, as usual, said nothing during the argument. Tuesday marked five years [emphasis added] since Justice Clarence Thomas last asked a question during the court's oral arguments."

Think about that: United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has remained silent during five years of arguments heard by the court. Perhaps I'm wrong, but isn't it the job of a justice to take part in the cases argued before his court? What in the hell is Thomas doing while the arguments swirl around him? Remember, U.S. Supreme Court justices are appointed for life. Let's make Justice Thomas himself the subject of an argument for ending lifetime tenure.