The 270-seat Hamann Auditorium on the U. Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus overflowed with students, Nebraska judges and College of Law alumni on Thursday to hear words of wisdom from avid Husker fan and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
At noon, Thomas spoke at the Roman L. Hruska lecture in the auditorium at the UNL College of Law. Rather than present a speech to the students, Thomas instead had a panel discussion with three professors of law.
“I was encouraged to be less formal, when I came to talk, by my wife,” Thomas told the crowd.
Professors Josephine Potuto, Richard Duncan and assistant professor Eric Berger sat on either side of Thomas and asked questions ranging from his take on the role of the court system today to his affection for RV trips.
“It was a great event for the college of law,” Berger said of Thomas’ visit. “Justice Thomas is a warm, engaging speaker with a great sense of humor and interesting points of view.”
Throughout the talk, Thomas also reflected on his nearly 20 years on the Supreme Court and the changing times.
“Some say it’s a life well spent,” Thomas said. “Well, it’s a life spent.”
Thomas frequently returned to the important quality of being humble as a judge as well as retaining a healthy skepticism rather than cynicism. As the talk began, Thomas frequently thanked the audience for letting him “interrupt what they have to do.”
“It has been an honor to be in the court, but I would not pick a job in the spotlight like it,” Thomas said. “You have a calling and you have to go do it.”
Thomas has been referred to frequently as the originator of modern-day originalism or the act of interpreting the original meaning of the Constitution. He brushed this title off, asserting that the Constitution was the only thing he felt he could base his decisions on.
“I’m not a worshipper of methodology,” Thomas said. “The point is to not bring my viewpoint into it. What else am I supposed to do? Use an Ouija board? Chicken bones?”
When asked about the future, an air of mystery and excitement entered Thomas’ booming voice.
“We just can’t predict what’s next,” said Thomas. “I remember when cellphones were as big as a loaf of bread and had no reception. I think technology issues will be big, and things we couldn’t do before like decide who is born and who dies.”
From there, Thomas moved to much lighter topics, such as his pastime enjoyments and RV excursions.
“We stayed in an RV park in Sydney, Neb., and got to ride in a combine,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t a Case, but it worked.”
Thomas said he likes trips like this to the Midwest and out of the political bubble of Washington, D.C.
“It’s good to not get sucked into the vortex,” Thomas said. “We do a disservice when we go to the beltway and become a Tower of Babel.”
Thomas took written questions from the audience and the conversations gradually and inevitably turned to Husker football. Even avid fans would be in shock of how much the Georgia native knows about Husker athletics.
“Every year is an undefeated year until we get robbed,” Thomas said.