Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas decided not to teach a law seminar at George Washington University following an uproar from students who object to the conservative justice’s rulings.
Justice Thomas’ co-teacher Gregory Maggs sent an email announcing the decision, according to Fox News Digital.
“Unfortunately, I am writing with some sad news: Justice Thomas has informed me that he is unavailable to co-teach the seminar this fall,” Mr. Maggs wrote. “I know that this is disappointing.”
A university official confirmed the announcement to The Washington Times.
“Justice Thomas informed GW Law that he is unavailable to co-teach a Constitutional Law Seminar this fall. The students were promptly informed of Justice Thomas’ decision by his co-instructor who will continue to offer the seminar this fall,” said the spokesperson.
He had taught the class with Mr. Maggs for roughly a decade, according to reports.
It’s unclear why Justice Thomas decided not to continue teaching, though he has been targeted by left-wing activists protesting outside his home in the aftermath of the high court reversing the national right to abortion.
A spokesperson from the high court did not immediately return a request for comment.
Last month, the university announced it wouldn’t fire Justice Thomas from teaching the course.
The school’s announcement came after students circulated a petition, which gathered more than 6,000 signatures online, calling for Justice Thomas to get the boot following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
That decision, authored by Justice Samuel A. Alito, overturned the landmark 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, which gave women a national right to abortion.
Students pointed to Justice Thomas’ concurring opinion where he said other cases related to the doctrine of “substantive due process” should be reevaluated, such as those governing contraception, same-sex relations and marriage.
The students also took issue with his wife Virginia Thomas, a Trump ally, having attended the Jan. 6 rally and advocating for overturning the 2020 election results.
Democrats and liberal activists have been calling for Justice Thomas to either resign or recuse from hearing cases related to the election or the former president, suggesting he has a conflict of interest.
“Judge Thomas is actively making life unsafe for thousands of students on our campus,” the petition read.
Jackson Hoppe, the director of public relations for the College Republicans chapter at George Washington University, said the announcement that Justice Thomas would no longer be teaching at the school was disappointing and troublesome.
“The university has lost a key figure who provides an invaluable contribution to the wide ideological spectrum that the university strives to promote. We recognize that the current reports indicate Justice Thomas made this decision based on his availability, but the uproar from the student body regarding his presence as faculty — and the incessant hostility shown toward conservative students and beliefs on campus in general — is great cause for alarm and must be addressed by the university,” he said.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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