Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas shared a humorous anecdote about his time at Yale Law School during a recent interview. He recounted a conversation with Justice Samuel Alito on why they didn’t form a friendship back then.
In a discussion with Senator Ted Cruz on the “Verdict with Ted Cruz” podcast, Thomas spoke about a range of topics including race and politics. Cruz inquired about Thomas and Alito’s time at Yale, noting, “He was a year behind you. But you didn’t know each other.”
“He’s a funny guy. He’s brilliant. He was always nerdy. Princeton guy like you, right?” Thomas replied.
Thomas recalled asking Alito, “Sam, how come we were there two years together? Why weren’t we friends?” To which Alito humorously replied, “Clarence, you were scary.” Thomas noted his unique style in law school, wearing bib overalls and combat boots, which might have contributed to this perception.
This was during a time when Thomas identified as a “left-wing radical” before he became a conservative thinker. Cruz commented on the podcast, “No other justice has overcome so much adversity to reach the pinnacle of American law.”
The interview offered a rare glimpse into Thomas’s past and the evolution of his ideology over time. Their conversation also touched on other important topics facing the nation.
Leave a Reply