Justice Thomas recounts a bad fall

Headline News

Justice Clarence Thomas' vote was not seriously in doubt when the Supreme Court took up the constitutionality of a ban on an abortion procedure in 2006. But Thomas did not attend the arguments on the issue and, other than a brief announcement that he was sick, his absence has not been explained until now.


Thomas said Thursday that his chair was empty that day in November 2006 because he took a spill the night before.

"I had the wonderful opportunity to fall on my face one night and was not able to make oral argument the following day as a result of it," he said at a hearing of a House appropriations subcommittee on the court's budget for the next year.

Thomas didn't identify the arguments he missed, but court officials said later he was referring to the abortion case. Thomas voted to uphold the federal ban.

The accident came up Thursday as part of an account about how well the court's Web site works and a plea for an extra $800,000 for the site.

Since October 2006, the court has been making argument transcripts available the same day a case is argued.

"In order to stay up to speed on the case and what occurred at oral argument, I simply went to our Web site later that day and it was there," Thomas said.

Related listings

  • SC won't fight Supreme Court stimulus challenge

    SC won't fight Supreme Court stimulus challenge

    Headline News 04/20/2009

    South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster says a lawsuit brought against the state over federal stimulus money is flawed and premature. But McMaster said in a filing with the Supreme Court on Monday that he won't oppose the state Supreme Court t...

  • SG Kagan Won't Argue Before High Court Until Next Term

    SG Kagan Won't Argue Before High Court Until Next Term

    Headline News 04/15/2009

    Elena Kagan, the Obama administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, is passing up the chance to make her first high-court argument in a big case over minority voting rights. Instead, Kagan, confirmed by the Senate last month as solicitor general, will ...

  • Court rules for suspect in dispute over confession

    Court rules for suspect in dispute over confession

    Headline News 04/06/2009

    The Supreme Court ruled Monday that confessions obtained by federal authorities before a suspect's first court appearance may be inadmissible if more than six hours elapse between an arrest and a court date. The court said in a 5-4 decision that long...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read