Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will not be teaching at George Washington University Law School this fall, according to an email obtained by the university student paper, The Hatchet.
“Unfortunately, I am writing with some sad news: Justice Thomas has informed me that he is unavailable to co-teach the seminar this fall. I know that this is disappointing. I am very sorry,” Gregory Maggs, Thomas’ co-teacher for a constitutional law seminar wrote in the email.
“The seminar has not been canceled but I will now be the sole instructor. For those of you still interested in taking the course, I assure you that we will make the best of the new situation,” Maggs added.
George Washington University spokesperson Timothy Pierce confirmed the report on Wednesday.
“Justice Thomas informed GW Law that he is unavailable to co-teach a Constitutional Law Seminar this fall,” Pierce said.
Maggs, who has been co-teaching the seminar with Thomas since 2011 will continue to do so solo, Pierce added.
Thomas was one of five conservative justices on the Supreme Court who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. In his concurring opinion Thomas suggests that the court revisit other precedents, including Americans right to access contraception, same-sex marriage and same-sex relationships.
After the ruling students at George Washington launched a petition calling for the university to remove Thomas from his teaching post. More than 11,300 people signed the petition.
