Why 3 Supreme Court Justices Didn’t Attend the State of the Union

MSN ^ | 20 JAN 2015 | Tessa Berenson

[South40]

The wording in the Constitution is simple and straightforward: the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.” There's nothing in there about the Supreme Court justices and, accordingly, there's nothing simple and straightforward about their attendance.

This year, six justices were in attendance, while three of the most conservative members of the court, Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were noticeably absent. In the modern era, custom has held that the justices would show up in their official robes and sit impassively. But in recent years, they've become more resistant to the tradition.

Justice Antonin Scalia’s absence is no surprise. It was the 19th State of the Union in a row that he’s skipped since he considers the speech a “childish spectacle.”

[SoFloFreeper]

Good for them. No need to listen.

Glad to know I have something in common with those three guys.

[Iron Munro]

Roberts and his crew were there though.

[444Flyer]

The Justices are supposed to uphold the Constitution and the Law. How and why would they attend a function (in good conscience) where the Law was being broken and mocked by Obama’s parading of an illegal alien in front of the nation?

[b4its2late]

Ruth Buzzy wasn’t really there either. Just napping....

[Genoa]

The three no-shows will be the ones supporting traditional marriage.

[Diapason]

“It was their night to wash the cat ?”

That could be painful, but probably not as painful as watching/listening to the speech.

All I know from listening to my local South African radio stations is just how ONE-derful the speech was.(sarc).

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

They said the CONSERVATIVES did not attend. Benedict Roberts is NO Conservative.

[TheCipher]

The wording in the Constitution is simple and straightforward: the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.” There's nothing in there about the Supreme Court justices and, accordingly, there's nothing simple and straightforward about their attendance.

There is nothing in there about attendance at all, simply because there was no address before a joint session ( excluding Washingtons first.) From Jefferson up to Wilson , the state of the union was delivered in a written report to Congress. There was no address before a joint session.

[Clump]

I’ve always wished there was no public SOTU address.
I completely agree with Scalia that it’s a “childish spectacle”.
If I were Speaker he wouldn’t get an invitation to step on the floor.

[gunnut]

Trying to figure out the math to this statement:

For years, attendance among the justices has been declining: From 1965 through 1980, the attendance rate was 84 percent. Over the next two decades, the number dropped to 53 percent. Since 2000, the rate has fallen to 32 percent, according to a study by Todd Peppers of Roanoke College and Michael Giles of Emory University.

I don't remember more than half of the justices not in attendance. How does this math work? It must be that Common Core math.

[Resettozero]

Roberts and his crew were there though.

And what a crew they make! Just look at them!

[Lucky2]

Can’t really blame them, I didn’t watch either.
I can not knowingly allow the image of President Fraud into my home.

[CharleysPride]

Poker night.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

DNR comes to mind. In this case, do not unplug. Pump air and blood through her until a conservative president is elected.

[Iron Munro]

Justice Antonin Scalia... considers the speech a “childish spectacle.

Obama State of the Union 2015 Address

[varina davis]

I watched Dance Moms and Child Genius. Much more entertaining and educational that listening to the Rajah’s rampant rhetoric