Opponents of the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court maintain that the nominee should be required to answer specific questions about his personal and philosophical beliefs. Yet the justice whom the nominee would replace took a firm stand against answering just such questions at his hearings in 1967. Thurgood Marshall said "A judge is not permitted to use his own personal views under any circumstances. " He must tell us what he thinks as an American citizen, but no one can ask him for opinions on matters which are purely private or even political matters.
Opponents of the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court maintain that the nominee should be required to answer specific questions about his personal and philosophical beliefs. Yet the justice whom the nominee would replace took a firm stand against answering just such questions at his hearings in 1967. Thurgood Marshall said "A judge is not permitted to use his own personal views under any circumstances. He must tell us what he thinks as an American citizen, but no one can ask him for opinions on matters which are purely private or even political matters.