Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been hospitalized with “flu-like symptoms,” according to reports.
Justice Thomas “was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Friday evening after experiencing flu-like symptoms,” the court’s public information office revealed Sunday evening.
The court’s press release continued:
“He underwent tests, was diagnosed with an infection, and is being treated with intravenous antibiotics.
“His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two.
“Justice Thomas will participate in the consideration and discussion of any cases for which he is not present on the basis of the briefs, transcripts, and audio of the oral arguments.”
Clarence Thomas was admitted to the hospital two nights ago with flu-like symptoms, the court said in a press release. He expects to be released “in a day or two.” pic.twitter.com/kKeES7nHw2
— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) March 20, 2022
Democrat President Joe Biden has a short window and a slim majority to get a new Supreme Court Justice approved.
However, Biden’s nominee is not a sure thing at all.
From Politico:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Sunday that he had not decided whether to vote for the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, ahead of a week of hearings for the nominee, who would be the first Black woman to sit on the high court.
“I’m going to listen to the evidence,” the Kentucky senator said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “I’m going to listen to the hearings.
And by the way, she’ll be treated much better than Democrats typically treated Republican nominees like Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh,” he added, referencing the two Republican justices who were each accused of sexual misconduct before being confirmed to the court.
McConnell’s language is similar to comments made by others in his party about keeping the hearings respectful.
Though the GOP had not previously signaled any choreographed approach to the confirmation hearings, the tides turned when Republicans started accusing Jackson of being soft on crime when it comes to sex-related offenses — which the White House has denied.
McConnell’s comments follow a one-on-one meeting he held with the nominee, during which he said he raised the question of whether she would support court-packing — or the idea of adding additional seats to the Supreme Court to up the influence of the party that controls the White House. T
he minority leader has indicated that this will be a key issue in the confirmation hearing, though former Sen. Doug Jones, the nominee’s guide for the process, has said Jackson told McConnell that adding seats would be a decision for Congress, not her.
