Mental Distortion

A high-resolution photo of the presidential inauguration was taken last month that allowed one to zoom in on the various people taking part in the inaugural festivities on January 20. Look closely, and you’ll see supreme court justice Clarence Thomas taking a nap during President Obama’s inaugural speech. I also can’t tell if Samuel Alito is napping as well, although watching him at the inauguration, he seemed rather aloof to the entire affair (perhaps he is still annoyed with Obama voting against his confirmation in the Senate three years ago). But for a justice who rarely utters a word or any at all during oral arguments at the high court, Thomas takes it one step further by napping during not only a historic moment for the country and the world, but at a milestone in African-American history with the election of the country’s first black president.