Story perspectives

Justice Thomas Drives Supermajority Opinions, Faces Ethics Probe

5/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

On May 7 2026 Thomas, a baby-boomer justice, used seniority to assign majority-opinion writing when Chief Justice John Roberts is not in the majority.
His tenure coincides with a supermajority that has overturned abortion rights, ended affirmative-action admissions, and limited the Voting Rights Act.
He faces scrutiny for undisclosed luxury trips from a GOP megadonor and his wife’s false 2020 election claims, while his former clerks fill many federal judgeships.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in March 2002, but the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision—building on Buckley v. Valeo (1976)—struck down corporate limits on independent expenditures. The ruling spurred super-PAC growth, enabling donors like Sheldon Adelson to fund trips for Justice Clarence Thomas, a pattern that now shapes election-law battles.

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Story summary

On May 7 2026 Thomas, a baby-boomer justice, used seniority to assign majority-opinion writing when Chief Justice John Roberts is not in the majority.
His tenure coincides with a supermajority that has overturned abortion rights, ended affirmative-action admissions, and limited the Voting Rights Act.
He faces scrutiny for undisclosed luxury trips from a GOP megadonor and his wife’s false 2020 election claims, while his former clerks fill many federal judgeships.

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