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U.S. NEWS Monday 14 March 2022
Justice Thomas slams cancel culture, 'packing' Supreme Court

By SAM METZ congressional hearings,
Associated Press lawmakers grilled Thomas
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — U.S. about sexual harassment
Supreme Court Justice allegations from Anita Hill, a
Clarence Thomas said he's former employee, leading
concerned efforts to po- him to call the experience
liticize the court or add ad- a "high tech lynching."
ditional justices may erode If confirmed, Jackson
the institution's credibility, would be the first Black
speaking Friday in Utah at woman on the court, and
an event hosted by former would join Thomas as the
Republican U.S. Sen. Orrin current court's second
Hatch's foundation. Black justice.
Thomas, the most senior jus- Thomas, who grew up in
tice on the nine-member Georgia during segrega-
court, said he often worries tion, said he held civility as
about the long-term reper- one of his highest values.
cussions of trends such as He said he learned to re-
"cancel culture" and a lack spect institutions and de-
of civil debate. bate civilly with those who
"You can cavalierly talk disagreed with him during
about packing or stacking his years in school. Based
the court. You can cava- on conversations he's had
lierly talk about doing this or with students at his univer-
doing that. At some point sity lectures in recent years,
the institution is going to he said he doesn't believe
be compromised," he told colleges are welcoming
an audience of about 500 places for productive de-
people at an upscale hotel bate, particularly for stu-
in Salt Lake City."By doing dents who support what
this, you continue to chip he described as traditional
away at the respect of the families or oppose abor-
institutions that the next In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas sits for a group tion.
generation is going to need portrait at the Supreme Court Building in Washington. Thomas did not reference
if they're going to have civil Associated Press the future of Roe v. Wade,
society," Thomas said. the landmark 1973 Su-
Rulings this year will set laws year to add four justices to you're making decisions in for her political activity and preme Court decision that
on hot-button political is- the bench, and President government, in the legisla- involvement in groups that extended abortion rights
sues, including abortion, Joe Biden has convened ture, or in the courts?" file briefs about cases in throughout the country.
guns and voting rights. a commission to study ex- In addition to condemning front of the Supreme Court, The court this year is sched-
The court has leaned in- panding the court. "cancel culture," Thomas as well as using her Face- uled to rule on Dobbs v.
creasingly conservative "I'm afraid, particularly in also blasted the media for book page to amplify par- Jackson Women's Health
since three justices nomi- this world of cancel culture cultivating inaccurate im- tisan attacks. Organization and whether
nated by former President attack, I don't know where pressions about public fig- As Congress prepares to Mississippi can ban abor-
Donald Trump joined its you're going to learn to en- ures — including himself, hold confirmation hearings tions at 15 weeks. While the
ranks. Progressives have gage as we did when I grew his wife and late Supreme for Judge Ketanji Brown court deliberates over the
in turn called to expand up," he said. "If you don't Court Justice Antonin Sca- Jackson, Thomas recalled case, lawmakers in Florida,
the number of justices on learn at that level in high lia. his 1991 confirmation pro- West Virginia and Kentucky
the court, including during school, in grammar school, Ginni Thomas, Justice cess as a humiliating and are advancing similar leg-
the 2020 presidential pri- in your neighborhood, or Thomas's wife and a long- embarrassing experience islation hoping the court
mary. Democrats in Con- in civic organizations, then time conservative activist, that taught him not to overturns Roe and estab-
gress introduced a bill last how do you have it when has faced scrutiny this year be overly prideful. During lishes new precedent.q

Obama tests positive for COVID-19,

says he's 'feeling fine'

The Associated Press boosted." Control and Prevention
Former President Barack Obama encouraged report that 75.2% of U.S.
Obama said on Sunday more Americans to get adults are fully vaccinated
that he had tested posi- vaccinated against the and 47.7% of the fully vac-
tive for the coronavirus, coronavirus, despite the cinated have received
though he's feeling rela- declining infection rate in a booster shot. The CDC
tively healthy and his wife, the U.S. relaxed its guidelines for
Michelle, tested negative. There were roughly 35,000 indoor masking in late Feb-
"I've had a scratchy throat infections on average ruary, taking a more holis-
for a couple days, but am over the past week, down tic approach that meant
feeling fine otherwise," sharply from mid-January the vast majority of Ameri- Former President Barack Obama speaks during a memorial
Obama said on Twitter. when that average was cans live in areas without service for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at the
Smith Center in Las Vegas, Jan. 8, 2022.
"Michelle and I are grate- closer to 800,000. the recommendation for Associated Press
ful to be vaccinated and The Centers for Disease indoor masking in public.q