NEW CLARENCE THOMAS CONTROVERSY

AUGUSTA — The Supreme Court's only black Justice, Clarence Thomas, ruffled some feathers in east Georgia today by speaking at the opening of a new courthouse named for a civil rights leader, reports The Daily Journal.

The Georgia native spoke at a new courthouse in Augusta named for civil rights leader John Ruffin Jr., the first black chief judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals.

In his remarks, Thomas called Ruffin a trailblazer.

Some say picking Thomas to speak at the event was a divisive and disrespectful move, considering the justice's conservative record.

It's the latest sign of Thomas' strained relations with his home state.

His speeches at the University of Georgia in 2003 and 2008 were met with criticism from students and faculty.

Many critics of the Supreme Court hone in on conservative Justice Thomas, alleging that he lacks intellect and flexibility.  Thomas haD a few choice words to offer back at them, The Augusta Chronicle reports.

The critics of court decisions suffer from “a disease of illiteracy or laziness” that could weaken the law, he said at a speech to the Augusta, Ga. Bar Association.

“Cynics” who are “drunk on their own opinions” don’t impress Thomas. “You don’t go to a Georgia fan to get commentary on the University of Florida, because it’s not objective commentary,” he said.

“Unfortunately, much of the commentary about the court is from the standpoint of people who have vested interests in particular outcomes, particular policies or particular results. Do you think you are getting an honest assessment?”