Clarence Thomas Speaks Candidly About Being A Judge

He's not trying to be anyone's hero.

(Photo by Aude Guerrucci-Pool/Getty Images)

Our decisions should not be driven by a desire to be revered or lionized for reaching certain outcomes. We are not mass media icons. We are judges, nothing more and nothing less.

— Justice Clarence Thomas, in comments given during the dedication ceremony for the new Nathan Deal Judicial Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Thomas continued, adding, “[W]e judges … must be disciplined and on guard to make sure that we do not overstep our bounds. Each time a judge sidesteps or manipulates the law to achieve the desired outcome, the rule of law suffers.”


Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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