It was an historic, if somewhat confused moment at the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday morning: Justice Clarence Thomas spoke during an oral argument, the first time he has done so in nearly seven years. But it was only a brief aside that came during banter among the justices, and it was difficult for spectators to hear.
Thomas last asked a question during oral argument on February 22, 2006, even as or partly because the rest of the court has gotten more talkative than ever. Thomas does speak from the bench when announcing an opinion he has written, but never during the intense questioning of oral advocates.
