Justice Thomas Isn’t Cool With Supremes Who Rejected Florida Lawsuit

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.

And he’s been one of the best additions to the court in its distinguished history. He knows the Constitution like the back of his hand. So when a decision is made that seems injurious to the nation’s founding document, he responds like a parent trying to protect a child.

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.”

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, 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.

“If this Court does not exercise jurisdiction over a controversy between two States, then the complaining State has no judicial forum in which to seek relief,” Thomas wrote.

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