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Regardless of why Thomas has been so tight-lipped, everybody's wondering what he meant when he said "well, he did not." (AP Photo/File)

Lost in translation: Justice Clarence Thomas breaks 7-year silence

BY Alyssa Kleven  on January 15, 2013 @ 12:50 pm (Updated: 10:49 am - 1/25/13 )

Justice Clarence Thomas is famously quiet on the Supreme Court bench.

On Monday, he broke seven years of silence, and although no one is 100 percent positive, it was likely to make a joke about his alma mater, Yale.

The actual text of what he said: "Well, he did not."

"Most of us who watch the court closely thought he would never speak again," Dahlia Lithwick a writer for Slate told Luke Burbank.

Lithwick said there are a few different theories as to why Thomas stopped speaking seven years ago. The most polite reason is because during arguments some believe it's rude to talk over the attorney who has been invited in to state their case.

"That's the most generous view," according to Lithwick.

Another reason may be because he's self-conscious about his deep southern accent.

But there is this other theory. According to Lithwick, he might be pouting and it's been some sort of seven-year soak.

"Is this some sort of way of saying to America, I'm just not going to engage, I'm just not going to talk to you all?" asked Lithwick.

Regardless of why Thomas has been so tight-lipped, everybody's wondering what he meant when he said "Well, he did not."

The court was hearing a case on whether someone who had been sentenced to death had a competent attorney.

Apparently before Thomas' four words, Justice Antonin Scalia who was speaking right before made a "jokey" point that clearly this was someone who was competent because they went to Yale.

Clarence Thomas has a long-standing problem with Yale. He graduated from Yale Law School but he's been very clear on and off the bench that it wasn't a good experience. He saw Yale as a deeply shaming affirmative action experience.

Lithwick said in his biography he revealed that he covered his Yale diploma with a sticker, because it was a joke, and he had a "Yale sucks," bumper sticker for quite some time.

Knowing that, Lithwick said, "Some version of the joke is, just because you went to Yale, doesn't mean your competent."

Though, we may never know what he meant for sure, because at least part of his joke was lost in the court reporter's translation.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (17)


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  • zounds wrote...
    Poor Clarence
    January 15, 2013 2:12 pm
    Ever the victim. A free education, a lifetime of riches but poor me.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Yo Zounds
    January 15, 2013 7:56 pm
    Thomas has more intelligence & integrity in his left testicle then you'll ever achieve in your lifetime. Educate yourself on the man before you embarrass yourself further.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    And this is a news story
    January 15, 2013 2:35 pm
    So Zounds - Clarence Thomas is a Supreme Court Judge and you do what for a living..

    Please list your lifes accomplishments..

    Ok... you have 1000 posts on MyNW.com.. what else?

    yeah.. yeah.. we know... your could be a Supreme Court Judge too.. but Bush prevented you from getting an education and that Mercedes and that free house... gotcha..

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • zounds wrote...
    He is whining about it cb
    January 15, 2013 2:44 pm
    Who, in their right mind, would whine?

    1000 posts? Have you lost your mind?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    At least Justice Thomas admits it
    January 15, 2013 3:54 pm
    Meanwhile our dear POTUS still refuses to release his college transcripts. I wonder why?...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Clarence Thomas
    January 15, 2013 6:32 pm
    "Thomas entered Yale Law School, from which he received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1974, graduating towards the middle of his class." "Thomas has recollected that his Yale law degree was not taken seriously by law firms to which he applied after graduating. He said that potential employers assumed he obtained it because of affirmative action policies. According to Thomas, he was "asked pointed questions, unsubtly suggesting that they doubted I was as smart as my grades indicated." "I peeled a fifteen-cent sticker off a package of cigars and stuck it on the frame of my law degree to remind myself of the mistake I’d made by going to Yale. I never did change my mind about its value."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ sportsguru
    January 15, 2013 6:44 pm
    You have proven you are competent at copying and pasting.

    Were you trying to make a point of sorts, or was it "lost in translation"?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Guru
    January 15, 2013 8:00 pm
    Are you aware how badly he was treated an humiliated at Yale? Or do you pick & chose what successful African Americans are OK by their political ideology ? Pretty shallow guru...tell me how you feel about Condaleza Rice?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Maplefish
    January 15, 2013 9:17 pm
    Well that two posters that are "lost in translation to my post",lol. Of course I am aware of a lot of things about Clarence Thomas, it's interesting that you say he was treated badly and still was able to earn his Juris Doctor degree despite this treatment, I went to a college in the south and was treated badly as well and overcame the stereotypes and prejudice as well, but a self proclaimed resident genius poster on the website seems to think I lied about this FACT, couldn't have happened and never would happen, not in the south.

    I guess I have to be famous and write a book about my experience for it to be TRUE, my family is also originally from the deep south and they also experience a lot of the same things that he went thru and WORSE because we were not as affluent as Clarence's grandmother and grandfather was, but nahh, that couldn't happen to a regular family, only the famous one's,racism never happened, sort of like the holocaust never happened,lol.

    Condalez Rice, let's just say my nipples get's hard everytime I look and think about her to answer your question, I love smart and powerful women, I married one. I would do her if I wasn't already married, I don't like her politics but unlike you neo-con jackbooted republicans I am able to separate politics from what a person is outside of politics, I am proud of Condaleza Rice, I just don't like her politics, I am proud of what Clarence Thomas accomplished, but I don't think him as a Justice is good for America, sh!!tz, I like Herman Cain but think yall was crazy to even think he could run the country,lol.

    But I am sure that me saying this will be just "lost in translation".

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  • Snout wrote...
    So he's "quiet."
    January 15, 2013 6:49 pm
    Ever read any of his written opinions? I didn't think so. They are well reasoned and brilliantly written. And for that matter can you name anything profound that has been spoken while a justice is on the bench? I didn't think so. These people aren't politicians. Well, some of them are but that's another argument for another time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    bill!
    January 15, 2013 7:46 pm
    You must have a load in your attends to say the Liberals are racist. That's the republicans job! No wonder you are in that nursing home in Sequim. If I were one of your relatives I would take away your computer. Senile old farts like you should be banned from posting.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Wrongway
    January 15, 2013 8:04 pm
    You are pathetic. The Left is so friggin racist that its sickening. You people throw out the race card at every opportunity but your too stupid to even see that your the ones keeping the minorities ( Africans Americans) totally defendant on government entitlements. You are an ill- informed, narrow minded moron. I'm betting you even have an Obama Phone. Piss off D- Bag
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    Clarence Thomas
    January 15, 2013 9:32 pm
    Is a true coward, no joke
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    Clarence Thomas has left America what?
    January 15, 2013 10:22 pm
    On this day January 15, 1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. was born... both born in Jim Crow south,one with the courage that changed and still effects history, the other has no words for history but is a heck of yes man for tokenism
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