Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas speaks at the Heritage Foundation on October 21, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer | Getty Images
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was discharged from the hospital Friday, a week after he was admitted with an infection, a court spokeswoman said.
Thomas, 73, was treated with antibiotics at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., after “experiencing flu-like symptoms,” according to the court.
A spokeswoman disclosed the justice’s condition on Sunday night, two days after he was admitted, saying in a press release that Thomas’ symptoms were “abating” and that he expected to be released “in a day or two.”
The court had not responded to requests for additional information between Sunday night and Friday morning. The only update from the court during that period came from Thomas’ colleague on the bench, Justice Stephen Breyer, who was questioned outside a restaurant in D.C. on Wednesday by TMZ.
“I think he’s fine,” Breyer said of Thomas.
Thomas is currently the longest-serving justice on the high court, and the second-oldest, behind the 83-year-old Breyer, who is retiring.
Thomas did not participate in oral arguments before the court on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. At the start of each day’s proceedings, Chief Justice John Roberts announced that Thomas “is unable to be present today but will participate in consideration and decision” of the cases based on court briefs and transcripts of the arguments.
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