Claire Dawson
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on March 18, 2022, with flu-like symptoms. The 73-year-old was diagnosed with an infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics. After a week-long stay, Thomas was discharged from the hospital on March 25, 2022. He faced media attention during his hospitalization due to reports of text messages exchanged between his wife, Virginia, and then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows. In April 2024, Thomas was again absent from the Supreme Court without explanation, raising questions about his health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Clarence Thomas |
| Occupation | Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court |
| Age | 73 in 2022, 75 in 2024 |
| Hospitalization dates | Admitted on March 18, 2022; discharged on March 25, 2022 |
| Hospital | Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. |
| Symptoms | Flu-like symptoms |
| Diagnosis | Infection |
| Treatment | Intravenous antibiotics |
| COVID-19 status | Negative; fully vaccinated and boosted |
| Court participation during hospitalization | Remotely through transcripts and briefs |
| Recent absence | April 15, 2024, with no explanation |
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What You'll Learn
- Clarence Thomas was discharged from hospital on March 25, 2022
- He was treated for an infection with intravenous antibiotics
- Thomas had been admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms
- The Supreme Court remained silent on Thomas' condition during his hospital stay
- Thomas faced media attention over his wife's text messages to Mark Meadows
Clarence Thomas was discharged from hospital on March 25, 2022
On March 25, 2022, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was discharged from Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he had been admitted a week earlier with \"flu-like symptoms." The 73-year-old Thomas, the court's longest-serving member, was diagnosed with an infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics. While the court did not provide specific details about his condition, it was announced that his symptoms were abating, and he was resting comfortably.
Thomas's hospitalization attracted media attention, coinciding with reports of text messages exchanged between his wife, Virginia Thomas, and then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows. Virginia Thomas promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election results and discussed her efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's victory. Some legal experts argued that Justice Thomas should have recused himself from related cases, but he was the only member of the high court to publicly disagree with the decision to release the messages.
Justice Thomas's absence from the Supreme Court bench was notable, as he missed three days of oral arguments. Chief Justice John Roberts initially indicated that Thomas was "unable to be present" but would still participate in case decisions based on briefs and transcripts. Thomas's discharge from the hospital on Friday, March 25, was confirmed by a court spokesperson, who provided no further details about his illness.
Following his release from the hospital, Justice Clarence Thomas returned to the Supreme Court. In April 2024, he was noted to be absent from arguments on two cases, with no explanation offered by the court. At 75 years old, Thomas remains the oldest and longest-serving member of the court.
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He was treated for an infection with intravenous antibiotics
On March 18, 2022, 73-year-old Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving justice of the US Supreme Court, was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC, after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Tests revealed that he had an infection, and he was treated with intravenous antibiotics.
Intravenous antibiotics are a type of medication that is administered directly into the veins to treat infections. This method of administration allows the antibiotics to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body quickly, reaching the site of infection and helping to eradicate the infection.
In the case of Justice Clarence Thomas, the intravenous antibiotics were likely administered through an IV drip or a syringe, with the specific type and dosage of antibiotics determined by the severity and type of infection. It is common for patients with severe infections or those unable to take oral medication to be treated with intravenous antibiotics.
The treatment process for intravenous antibiotics typically involves the following steps:
- Preparation: Medical staff will gather the necessary equipment, including sterile gloves, an IV bag containing the antibiotic solution, and a syringe or IV tubing.
- Accessing the vein: A vein is typically accessed in the arm, hand, or sometimes the leg. The skin around the chosen site is cleaned with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection.
- Insertion: A small needle or catheter is inserted into the chosen vein. This process is known as cannulation and is usually performed by a trained healthcare professional.
- Administration: Once the needle or catheter is securely in place, the antibiotic solution is slowly released from the IV bag into the patient's vein, either by gravity or with the assistance of a pump.
- Monitoring: During the infusion process, medical staff will monitor the patient for any signs of adverse reactions, ensuring the medication is administered safely and effectively.
It is important to note that the specific procedures and protocols may vary depending on the hospital's policies and the patient's individual needs.
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Thomas had been admitted to hospital with 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. Thomas had been admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms, and tests showed that he had an infection. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics, and the Supreme Court was quick to announce that Thomas did not have Covid-19, as he had been fully vaccinated with a booster shot.
The court's public information office indicated that Thomas was "resting comfortably" and was expected to be released from the hospital in a day or two. However, Thomas spent almost a full week under inpatient care before being discharged on Friday morning, March 25, 2022. During his hospitalization, Thomas missed three days of oral arguments at the high court but was still expected to take part in deciding those cases by reviewing transcripts and listening to audio of the arguments.
The Supreme Court has a history of providing relatively few details about the justices' health, and Thomas' hospitalization was no exception. The court's public information officer declined to offer any updates or details on Thomas' condition during his stay in the hospital, maintaining the court's usual level of discretion regarding the health of its justices.
Thomas' hospitalization occurred during a significant political moment, as the Senate Judiciary Committee held confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden's nominee to fill the seat of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Additionally, Thomas faced media attention due to reports of text messages exchanged between his wife, Virginia, and then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, regarding the 2020 presidential election.
Following his discharge from the hospital, Thomas returned to the Supreme Court, resuming his role as the oldest and longest-serving member of the court. In April 2024, Thomas was again absent from the court with no explanation, but he returned to the bench the following day, participating fully in the cases through written legal briefs and transcripts of arguments.
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The Supreme Court remained silent on Thomas' condition during his hospital stay
On March 24, 2022, the Supreme Court remained silent on Justice Clarence Thomas's condition during his hospital stay, five days after he was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., with "flu-like symptoms." The 73-year-old justice was absent from the bench for the third consecutive day, with Chief Justice John Roberts indicating that Thomas was "unable to be present" but would still participate in deciding the case based on the briefs and oral argument transcripts.
The court had announced on Sunday that Thomas had been hospitalized on Friday night and was being treated for "an infection" with intravenous antibiotics. While Thomas was reported to be "resting comfortably," there were no further updates on his condition provided by the court in the following days. This lack of information is not unusual, as the Supreme Court often discloses relatively few details about the justices' health.
Thomas was eventually discharged from the hospital on Friday, March 25, 2022, after a weeklong stay. A court spokesperson provided minimal information, stating that Thomas's hospitalization was unrelated to COVID-19 and offering no further details on his illness. Thomas's health garnered media attention, particularly as it coincided with the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden's nominee to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat.
In April 2024, Thomas, then 75 years old, was again absent from the Supreme Court without explanation. Chief Justice John Roberts noted that Thomas would not appear but gave no reason for his absence, mirroring the court's previous silence during Thomas's 2022 hospitalization.
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Thomas faced media attention over his wife's text messages to Mark Meadows
In March 2022, Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving member of the US Supreme Court, was hospitalised with an infection and "flu-like symptoms". He was discharged after a week, and the news of his release coincided with media attention over text messages exchanged between his wife, Virginia Thomas, and Mark Meadows, the former chief of staff to then-President Donald Trump.
Virginia Thomas, a conservative activist and prominent Republican fundraiser, sent 29 text messages to Meadows urging him to pursue conspiracy theories and attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. She encouraged Meadows to make a plan and take action to maintain Trump's presidency, even after Joe Biden was declared the winner. In her messages, she also referenced QAnon conspiracy theories and pushed for lawyer Sidney Powell, a conspiracy theorist, to lead Trump's legal team. Virginia Thomas's messages were among the 2,320 texts that Meadows provided to the committee investigating the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
The revelation of these text messages sparked controversy and criticism. Some legal experts and critics on the left called for Clarence Thomas to be impeached and removed from his seat on the Supreme Court. They argued that his dissent from the Court's decision to release White House documents to the January 6 committee indicated that he was trying to protect his wife. However, defenders of Clarence Thomas countered that he should not be held accountable for his wife's actions and that there are no ethical rules governing the spouses of high court justices.
Clarence Thomas has not commented on the reports about the text messages. A longtime friend, Armstrong Williams, has spoken out in Thomas's defence, asserting that Thomas was unaware of his wife's texts and that she kept him in the dark. Williams described Thomas as "very isolated" from his wife's activities and stated that she is "very independent" and "shields her husband from what she does."
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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\" and was diagnosed with an infection.
As of April 16, 2024, Justice Clarence Thomas returned to the bench at the US Supreme Court. He is the oldest and longest-serving member of the court.
During Justice Clarence Thomas' hospital stay, there was a media frenzy surrounding reports of text messages exchanged between his wife, Virginia Thomas, and then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows. Virginia Thomas promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election results and discussed aspects of the fight with her "best friend," speculated to be her husband.
