Clarence Thomas hospitalized with 'flu-like symptoms'

Justice Clarence Thomas has been hospitalized since Friday “after experiencing flu-like symptoms,” according to a statement from the Supreme Court on Sunday evening.

Thomas was being treated with “intravenous antibiotics” at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington for “an infection,” the statement said.

“His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two,” it said. A spokesperson for the court later said the infection was not Covid-related.

Thomas, 73, is the longest-serving justice on the current court, having joined in October 1991. Only 14 of the nation’s 115 justices served longer than he has so far.

Thomas’ hospitalization comes as the U.S. Senate is set to begin confirmation hearings on Monday for Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s first nominee to the nation’s highest court. If confirmed, Jackson would be the third African American to serve on the court, following Thurgood Marshall and Thomas.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Monday in an arbitration case, Morgan v. Sundance Inc., and in a case related to North Carolina's voter ID law, Berger v. North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. The Supreme Court's statement about Thomas said he would "participate in the consideration and discussion of any cases for which he is not present on the basis of the briefs, transcripts, and audio of the oral arguments."

Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.