Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Hospitalized

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Hospitalized
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas sits during a group photograph of the justices at the Supreme Court in Washington on April 23, 2021. (Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Zachary Stieber
3/20/2022
Updated:
3/21/2022

One of the oldest Supreme Court justices has been hospitalized since March 18, the court announced on Sunday.

Justice Clarence Thomas, 73, was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington on Friday evening after experiencing flu-like symptoms, the court said in a statement.

Following testing, Thomas was diagnosed with an infection.

Patricia McCabe, a court spokeswoman, told The Epoch Times in an email that the infection “is not COVID related,” adding that Thomas “does not have COVID.”

Ginni Thomas, the justice’s wife, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Thomas and all other eight members of the court have received a COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose.

Thomas is being treated with intravenous antibiotics, according to the court.

“His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two,” the court said.

Thomas will participate in any cases the court is scheduled to hear in the near future, even if he cannot be present for arguments.

Thomas, a George H. W. Bush appointee who has served on the court since 1991, recently traveled to Utah, where he gave a talk on March 11 to former Sen. Orrin Hatch’s (R-Utah) foundation in Salt Lake City.

Thomas is the longest-serving member currently on the court and will be the oldest member once Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, retires after the current term.

President Joe Biden has nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Breyer.

Confirmation hearings for Jackson started on Monday.