WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has withdrawn from teaching a seminar at George Washington University’s law school in the nation’s capital after student protests and a statement from the university supporting the role of conservative justices on campus.
“Judge Thomas has informed GW Law that he is not available to teach a constitutional law seminar this fall,” university spokesman Josh Grossman said in an emailed statement Wednesday.
Thomas, 74, has taught at the private school since 2011. He was scheduled to lead the seminar with Judge Gregory Maggs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Maggs once served as clerk of the Thomas Supreme Court.
Thomas was part of the conservative majority that in late June overturned Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion.
In the days that followed, thousands of students signed a petition calling on the school to cut ties with Thomas. But the university management refused.
Maggs will continue to offer the class, Grossman said.
Thomas’ withdrawal was first reported by the GW Hatchet, the campus newspaper, which received an email from Maggs to students telling them the “sad news” that Thomas would not be co-teaching the class.
Thomas did not respond to a request for comment made to the court’s public information office.
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