Thomas shares views of Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said he finds it interesting that most people who consider themselves experts on constitutional law have not even read the Constitution.

"All you need to be an expert on the Supreme Court are a couple of drinks and a mouth," Thomas said to the not-filled-to-capacity audience Monday evening at an AARP meeting in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center.

In a more serious tone, the gray-headed Thomas, who is the first Supreme Court justice to visit Marshall, added that one cannot be in a position of criticizing if they are not educated about the issue, especially about the proceedings of the Supreme Court.

"Those outside of the building have no idea what happens inside the building," Thomas said. "What I continue to be surprised by is the difference of what actually happens and what is said that happens."

Thomas said support and cooperation are examples of what does happen inside the courtroom, and refusing to get caught up in self-interest is Thomas' way of staying grounded in such an esteemed position. Leaving politics and personal relationships out of the equation fall right behind.

"We always begin our work with a handshake, and we always have lunch together," Thomas said about the relationship between the justices. "It's hard to break bread together and hate each other."

He referred to the Supreme Court and its members as the antithesis of what can be seen in Washington, D.C., and said he has never heard an unkind word.

But society is often focused on disagreements, the justice pointed out. He reminisced about his childhood, recalling that his grandfather would argue with others over politics and sports, and he loved to listen to the disputes. But regardless of how much the verbal disagreements intrigued him, the fighting and politics were the very aspects of his previous position as the director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission he detested. As a justice, he said, he can just do the job.

A self-proclaimed sports enthusiast and a Huskers fan at heart, Thomas compared his position as justice to that of a referee. Neutrality and "not making up their own rules as they go along" are aspects of the Supreme Court that he said he appreciates as part of his job.

"You want consistency and impartiality from referees, and that includes referees in black robes," Thomas said.

President George H.W. Bush referred to Thomas as a good man who calls verdicts as he sees them. Because of that, the former president promised to never publicly criticize the justice for any vote he would make, whether he agreed or not. Thomas credits his praiseworthy-integrity to the promise he made to God.

"I took an oath to God to do this job impartially," Thomas said.

Sometimes playing the role of the arbitrator is not always an enjoyable one, the justice pointed out. In response to a question from a member of the audience, he stated that it is the decisions in which the guilty verdict is not entirely clear that are the most difficult. Those are the ones that give him nightmares.

Self-discipline is a necessary characteristic for someone in his line of work. It has always been difficult and still is, he said.

"If you start saying, 'because I feel a particular way I can break the rules,' then everyone can break the rules," Thomas said.

The future doesn't seem to be any easier for Thomas or his fellow Supreme Court justices. He said issues such as abortion will be rendered almost simple compared to the issues that will soon face the court. He did not give an example to his theory.

But Thomas said he is dedicated to America's judicial system and the people that it affects.

"I hope that when my tenure is over, my work will be understandable by regular people like me," Thomas said.

In addition, he said he hopes to return to Marshall in the future for a question-and-answer session with students, although his schedule will not permit a visit any time soon.

Jennifer L. Chapman can be contacted at chapman92@marshall.edu.