I remember a lawyer friend about two decades ago comparing-and-contrasting Thomas and then-Court-mate and conservative icon – the late Antonin Scalia.
My friend pointed out that when Thomas and Scalia disagreed on a case? Thomas was correct – and Scalia incorrect.
Of course, their disagreeing didn’t happen a whole lot. But when it did? My friend called it: Thomas was right – Scalia was wrong. By that I mean: Thomas’ were the more Constitutional and conservative opinions.
These last 35 years, the real sardonic fun is when Thomas is outvoted on a case X-to-1. (X is usually 8, but there are occasional vacancies and recusals.)
As someone who wants DC to be drastically smaller and less offensive? I feel like an X-to-1 all the time. So I admire Thomas’ perpetual adherence to principle – the popularity of his opinion amongst his colleagues be darned.
Elon Musk’s Grok tells me there have been 52 cases where Thomas was just such a party of one. But I’m not sure if Grok caught last Thursday’s ruling. If not? This is #53…..
SCOTUS Delivers 8-1 Blow to AT&T, Verizon in $100M FCC Case: