Assoc. Dean Amar Comments on Justice Thomas for NY Times Online
Associate Dean Vikram Amar contributed an op-ed to "Room for Debate," a feature of the New York Times website, on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Justice Thomas has not spoken during oral argument for five years, sparking debate as to whether a justice can function acceptably without participating in oral arguments.
In "Not Everyone Needs to Speak," published in the February 17 edition of "Room for Debate," Amar writes that "oral argument is largely but not completely ceremonial," and that there is no need for every justice to engage in questioning. Still, Amar writes, participating in oral argument can play a valuable role in "communicating with the public," instilling confidence in the Court as a whole, and enabling the public to understand the justices' thinking.
Vikram Amar, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Law with the UC Davis School of Law, is a national authority in the fields of constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal procedure, and remedies. His biweekly column for FindLaw.com, a leading provider of online legal information, centers on his expertise in constitutional law.