The court is expected to weigh in next session on same-sex marriage, which it legalized in 2015

Settled legal precedent in the US is not “gospel” and in some instances may have been “something somebody dreamt up and others went along with”, the US supreme court justice Clarence Thomas has said.

Thomas – part of the conservative supermajority that has taken hold of the supreme court over Donald Trump’s two presidencies – delivered those comments Thursday at the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law in Washington DC, ABC News and other outlets reported. His remarks preceded the nine-month term that the supreme court is scheduled to begin on 6 October.

“I don’t think that … any of these cases that have been decided are the gospel,” Thomas said during the rare public appearance, invoking a term which in a religious context is often used to refer to the word of God. “And I do give perspective to the precedent. But … the precedent should be respectful of our legal tradition, and our country and our laws, and be based on something – not just something somebody dreamt up and others went along with.”

  • MynameisAllen@lemmy.zip
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    6 hours ago

    Ok, then when trump leaves and a democrat packs the court, then who gives a fuck? It’s not like the number of judges is gospel or anything. Or an age limit, again if we’re not going to follow the rules then who fucking cares

    • NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
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      4 hours ago

      As much as I want it, I don’t think the Democrats will ever be willing to pack the court. -and that makes me a little depressed.

      • BanMe@lemmy.world
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        3 hours ago

        The last time they had the chance, polling told them Americans wouldn’t be happy so they left it alone.

        It’s neat how they pay attention to what Americans want when it’s the politically easy thing to do.