Claire Dawson
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., in March 2022, with flu-like symptoms. The 73-year-old Thomas was diagnosed with an infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics. While the Supreme Court often provides limited information about justices' health, Thomas was discharged from the hospital a week after being admitted, and there have been no reports of subsequent hospitalizations. Thomas returned to the bench following his recovery, and as of 2024, he continues to serve as the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of hospitalization | March 18, 2022 |
| Age | 73 |
| Symptoms | Flu-like |
| Diagnosis | Infection |
| Treatment | Intravenous antibiotics |
| Hospital | Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.C. |
| Length of stay | One week |
| Date of discharge | March 25, 2022 |
| COVID-19 status | Negative |
| Vaccination status | Fully vaccinated and boosted |
| Court participation during hospitalization | Remote |
| Recent absence | April 15, 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Clarence Thomas was discharged from hospital on 25 March 2022
On 25 March 2022, US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was discharged from Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC, where he had been admitted a week earlier with flu-like symptoms. The 73-year-old Thomas was diagnosed with an infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics. While the Supreme Court did not provide updates on his condition during his hospitalisation, a spokesperson stated that Thomas's symptoms were abating and that he was resting comfortably.
Thomas's discharge came amid media attention surrounding text messages exchanged between his wife, Virginia Thomas, and then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows. Virginia Thomas urged Meadows to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election and promoted conspiracy theories about the outcome. Some legal experts argued that Justice Thomas should have recused himself from consideration of cases related to the matter.
Justice Thomas, the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court, had missed three days of oral arguments during his hospitalisation. Chief Justice John Roberts indicated that Thomas would participate in deciding the cases by reviewing transcripts and briefs.
Thomas returned to the Supreme Court in April 2024, but his absence was noted again in June of that year, with no explanation provided by the court.
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He was treated for an infection with intravenous antibiotics
Justice Clarence Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on the evening of March 18, 2022, after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Tests showed that the 73-year-old had an infection, and he was treated with intravenous antibiotics.
The Supreme Court announced on Sunday, March 20, that Thomas had been hospitalized two days prior and was diagnosed with "an infection" for which he was receiving intravenous antibiotics. Thomas was "resting comfortably," the court's public information office indicated, and his symptoms were described as "abating."
Intravenous antibiotics are a common treatment for severe or complicated infections. They are administered directly into the veins, allowing for a rapid and direct delivery of the medication into the bloodstream. This method ensures that a high concentration of the antibiotic reaches the site of infection, enabling faster relief from symptoms and quicker recovery.
In the case of Justice Clarence Thomas, the intravenous antibiotics successfully treated his infection, and he was discharged from the hospital on Friday, March 25, 2022, a week after being admitted. During his hospitalization, Thomas was also given the option to participate in deciding cases by reviewing transcripts of oral arguments.
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Thomas experienced flu-like symptoms
On March 18, 2022, 73-year-old Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court, was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Thomas' symptoms were severe enough to warrant hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics.
Thomas' flu-like symptoms were likely caused by an infection, as tests confirmed. While the specific type of infection was not disclosed, the court confirmed that it was not related to COVID-19. Thomas had received the COVID-19 vaccination and booster shot prior to his hospitalisation.
The specific details of Thomas' flu-like symptoms were not released to the public. However, the court did provide updates on his condition and treatment. On March 20, the court announced that Thomas was "resting comfortably" and that his symptoms were "abating". Thomas was being treated with intravenous antibiotics, indicating that his infection was serious enough to require aggressive treatment.
Thomas' flu-like symptoms caused him to miss oral arguments at the Supreme Court for three consecutive days. Despite his absence, Thomas was expected to participate in deciding the cases by reviewing the audio of the arguments and the corresponding transcripts. Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed that Thomas would "participate fully" in the cases despite his hospitalisation.
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He missed oral arguments at the high court
In March 2022, Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court, was hospitalised with "flu-like symptoms". He was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 18, and discharged a week later. During his hospital stay, Thomas missed three days of oral arguments at the high court.
Thomas, 73 at the time, underwent tests which showed he had an infection. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics, and his symptoms were abating by the time of his discharge. While the Supreme Court often provides few details about the justices' health, Chief Justice John Roberts did indicate that Thomas would not be present for oral arguments but would still participate in the consideration and decision of the cases in his absence. Roberts stated that Thomas would do so by reviewing the written legal briefs and transcripts of the oral arguments.
Thomas faced media attention during his hospitalisation due to reports that his wife, Virginia, exchanged text messages with then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, regarding the 2020 presidential election. Some legal experts argued that Thomas should have recused himself from the consideration of related cases.
In April 2024, Thomas, then 75, was once again absent from the Supreme Court with no explanation offered by the court. He did not participate remotely in arguments, as justices sometimes do when they are ill. Chief Justice John Roberts noted that Thomas would "participate fully" in the cases by using the written briefs and argument transcripts.
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Thomas' hospitalisation coincided with media attention on his wife, Virginia
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was hospitalized in March 2022 with "flu-like symptoms" and an infection. Thomas was released from the hospital after a weeklong stay, during which he received intravenous antibiotics and his symptoms abated. Thomas's hospitalization coincided with media scrutiny of his wife, Virginia Thomas, and her involvement in the 2020 presidential election.
Virginia Thomas, also known as Ginny or Ginni Thomas, had exchanged text messages with then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, as Trump sought to overturn his election loss. In the messages, Virginia Thomas urged Meadows to continue fighting against the election results and propagated conspiracy theories about President Joe Biden's victory. She also mentioned having discussed aspects of the effort with her "best friend," leading to speculation that she was referring to her husband.
The timing of Virginia Thomas's messages and Justice Clarence Thomas's hospitalization raised suspicions and speculation about the justice's health and potential involvement in his wife's activities. Some legal experts argued that if Virginia Thomas's messages pertained to the case, Justice Thomas should have recused himself from considering it. However, Justice Thomas did not comment on the reports and had previously indicated disagreement with the court's decision to deny Trump's request to halt the disclosure of the messages.
Justice Clarence Thomas has a history of providing limited information about his health, and his absence from the bench in April 2024, at the age of 75, again sparked questions about his well-being. While the court did not offer an explanation for his absence on that occasion, Thomas returned to the bench the following day and participated in cases using written briefs and transcripts.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Justice Clarence Thomas was discharged from the hospital on Friday, March 25, 2022.
Justice Clarence Thomas was admitted to the hospital with \"flu-like symptoms\". He was diagnosed with an infection and was treated with intravenous antibiotics.
Justice Clarence Thomas was in the hospital for a week. He was admitted on Friday, March 18, 2022, and discharged on Friday, March 25, 2022.
No, Justice Clarence Thomas missed oral arguments during his time in the hospital. However, he was expected to participate in deciding the cases by reviewing transcripts and listening to audio of the arguments.
Yes, Justice Clarence Thomas returned to the Supreme Court in April 2024, but he was absent again in June 2024 with no explanation offered by the court.
