Summary
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will speak at the University of Texas at Austin amid discussions about possible future vacancies on the Supreme Court. President Donald Trump has said he is ready to nominate new justices if openings occur, though no justices have announced plans to retire.
Key Facts
- Clarence Thomas, age 77, will give a lecture at the University of Texas as part of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence events.
- The university is undergoing academic changes, including consolidating ethnic and gender studies departments and adding conservative programs.
- President Trump said he might nominate between one to three new Supreme Court justices if vacancies arise.
- Trump expressed hope that Justices Thomas and Samuel Alito, 76, remain on the court.
- Republican leaders say they would move quickly to confirm nominees if a vacancy happens before midterm elections.
- Possible nominees mentioned include Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee.
- Justice Thomas’s current hiring of law clerks suggests he plans to stay on the Court.
- The Supreme Court has a 6–3 conservative majority, including justices appointed during Trump’s first term.
- Republicans are concerned their Senate majority might shrink in 2026, which could affect confirmation of Trump’s nominees.
