Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas asks first question in 10 years
By Eliza Collins
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas asked a question for the first time in a decade while hearing arguments on Monday — and then he kept going.
According to the official transcript of the case in question, Stephen L. Voisine and William E. Armstrong III v. United States, Thomas broke in just as Justice Department lawyer Ilana Eisenstein was about to sit down.
"Ms. Eisenstein, one question," Thomas said. "Can you give me — this is a misdemeanor violation. It suspends a constitutional right. Can you give me another area where a misdemeanor violation suspends a constitutional right?"
Thomas then followed up with multiple other questions about the case, which involves whether a conviction on charges of domestic violence ought to bar someone from owning a gun.
Judging from his questions — Thomas pressed Eisenstein on whether someone's First Amendment rights could be stripped following a misdemeanor charge — it's pretty clear where the justice was leaning.
The last time Thomas asked a question was Feb. 22, 2006, during a case on the death penalty.
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