ADVERTISEMENT
Justice Clarence Thomas doesn’t say much during oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. He’s also got a calm demeanor and a hearty laugh.
Florida alleged the two blue states improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in violation of federal standards requiring English proficiency and lawful immigration status for certain commercial drivers, arguing the policies created a public safety threat on American roads.
Thomas took other justices to task on Tuesday after a majority of the court refused to hear a lawsuit brought by Florida against Washington and California: Justice Clarence Thomas accused California and Washington of undermining federal immigration and trucking safety standards after a deadly Florida highway crash, blasting the Supreme Court on Tuesday for refusing to hear a case Florida had “nowhere else to bring.”
Thomas, joined by Justice Samuel Alito, said the Supreme Court had a constitutional obligation to hear the dispute because lawsuits between states can only be brought before the high court.
There’s only one court in the country that can hear lawsuits between states, and that’s the Supreme Court. More:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT