Ethics

Well, the Justice may have been silent on the bench for five years, but off the bench he has much to say. Politico reports on his keynote remarks to the Federalist Society this weekend, in an article that reviews all of the recent history of Justice Thomas's off the bench activities. Here's an excerpt:

At one point Thomas recognized his wife in the audience and suggested she was being targeted for her beliefs, telling the audience, according to the recording, ?my bride is with me, Virginia Thomas. And some of you may know her. But the reason I bring that ? specifically bring it ? up is there is a price to pay today for standing in defense of your Constitution.?

Thomas said his wife ?started her organization to give 24/7 every day in defense of liberty,? and said he shared her principles.

?We are equally yoked, and we love being with each other because we love the same things. We believe in the same things,? he said. ?So, with my wife, and with the people around me, what I see, I?m reinforced that we are focused on defending liberty. So, I admire her and I love her for that because it keeps me going.?

Thomas also warned in dire terms about what he said was the High Court?s straying from an originalist interpretation of the Constitution. Without mentioning the Democratic healthcare overhaul, Thomas singled out the Commerce Clause ? which is at issue in the lawsuits challenging the overhaul that are expected to make their way to the Supreme Court ? as an example of an area in which the Supreme Court had strayed, said the source.

?I do think that these are fundamental changes that are going on now, and I think they?re big changes,? Thomas said, explaining he wasn?t sure whether they are ?reversible in any way. ? But they?re so big, that I think they?re worth trying. And I think the [Constitution] is so important, it?s worth defending.?