17 Things on Clarence Thomas’ Mind During Rare Public Remarks

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Heritage Foundation:

It is important for the Supreme Court not only to base its decisions on the Constitution but to issue opinions that address the questions of everyday Americans, a relaxed Clarence Thomas said Wednesday night as an honored guest speaker at The Heritage Foundation.

 

In a deep, resonant voice, Thomas talked early in the hourlong program about the wisdom of writing opinions in plain language, of making the Constitution “accessible.”

 

“I think we hide it from them when we write in language that is inaccessible,” Thomas said. “We owe it to people to present to them their Constitution in a way they can understand it, to enfranchise them.”

 

Supreme Court justices, he said, are “obligated to work with” what is in the Constitution, and owe Americans a clear explanation of their decisions based on it.

 

Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of Thomas’ swearing-in.

 

Thomas, who drew an early laugh by saying he is “not a navel-gazer,” is the ninth eminent jurist to be asked to deliver the think tank’s Joseph Story Distinguished Lecture, and the first to do so in a conversational format rather than in formal remarks.