U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed concern Wednesday about declining civility among younger generations and its potential to affect judicial institutions. Thomas spoke during a public appearance at the University of Texas at Austin on April 15, 2026, where he delivered a lecture marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
A student asked Thomas to reflect on his earlier comments about friendships among Supreme Court justices amid today’s polarized climate. Thomas responded by contrasting the current environment with the court he joined in 1991.
“When I said a lot of that, it was when I first went to the court,” Thomas said. “That was a different court. That was a World War II generation.”
He recalled the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who revived the tradition of justices eating lunch together and later advocated for civics education after retiring. Thomas said O’Connor “gets way too little credit for what she did.” He added that members of that generation “respected — they were more in that tradition of a civil society and would listen to different points of view.”
Thomas commended the University of Texas at Austin for establishing its new School of Civic Leadership and embracing a Western Civilization curriculum. He suggested the approach could serve as a model for other universities seeking reform.
Addressing the student directly, Thomas said, “I think that young person should ask yourself, while you’re in college, how do you all deal with differences? Because I joined the court that dealt with differences as friends, as we respected each other.”
He continued, “And I don’t know how that civility — I don’t know how you bring it back in the current environment with social media and name-calling and all people accusing each other of various things and animus. I don’t know how you do that. And I fear that that’s going to infect the institutions such as the court and judges, etcetera, in the future, because these are young people who will be in these jobs.”
The hourlong lecture took place at Hogg Memorial Auditorium before an invited audience. University President Jim Davis introduced Thomas and presented him with a custom Longhorns jersey bearing the number 91, referencing the year of his appointment to the court.
Thomas, the longest-serving current justice, was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991. He holds an undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a law degree from Yale Law School. His prior roles included service as assistant attorney general of Missouri, assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education, and judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The event highlighted themes of natural rights, civic participation and the principles in the Declaration of Independence. Thomas emphasized the importance of teaching civics and Western civilization.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to return to the bench Friday, April 24, 2026, when justices are expected to issue at least one opinion in a pending case. The court heard oral arguments earlier in the week, including cases on securities enforcement and federal review of state court decisions.
Southern Maryland residents follow Supreme Court developments closely, as rulings on issues such as education, environmental regulations and constitutional rights directly affect local schools, waterways and communities in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties. Recent decisions have addressed topics ranging from parental rights in public schools to water quality standards in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The lecture occurred as universities nationwide face ongoing debates about curriculum, free speech and ideological diversity on campus. Thomas’s remarks underscore broader discussions about maintaining respectful discourse in public institutions, including the judiciary.
Full video of the lecture is available through University of Texas at Austin channels and C-SPAN. Transcripts and additional coverage appear on university news sites and national outlets.
Thomas’s comments come at a time when public trust in institutions remains a topic of national conversation. His observations drew from personal experience spanning more than three decades on the nation’s highest court.
The appearance marked one of several public engagements by Supreme Court justices in recent months as the court prepares for the final weeks of its current term. Opinions released in coming weeks will address cases argued during the October 2025 term.
No specific remedies or policy proposals were outlined in Thomas’s response to the student question. He framed the challenge as one facing the next generation entering professional fields, including law and judging.
Southern Maryland colleges, including the College of Southern Maryland, continue to emphasize civic education and respectful dialogue through programs in government, history and law. Local high schools and community organizations host similar discussions on civil discourse and constitutional principles.
The full impact of shifting generational attitudes on judicial norms remains a subject of ongoing analysis by legal scholars and court observers. Thomas’s remarks add to a record of justices commenting publicly on the importance of collegiality and institutional integrity.
