Added circuit duty for Thomas

By Lyle Denniston
on Feb 25, 2016 at 4:29 pm

Justice Clarence Thomas will be Circuit Justice for two of the geographic groupings of lower federal courts, adding the assignment for the Fifth Circuit formerly held by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court said Thursday.  Thomas retains his assignment for the Eleventh Circuit.

Each Justice has duties to act on emergency and temporary legal matters that reach the Court from the federal appeals courts and district courts.  They have the authority to act on their own in those instances, but often share the action with their colleagues.

Here is the new lineup of assignments:

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. — D.C., Fourth, and Federal Circuits

Justice Stephen G. Breyer — First Circuit

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — Second Circuit

Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. — Third and Eighth Circuits

Justice Thomas — Fifth and Eleventh Circuits

Justice Elena Kagan — Sixth and Seventh Circuits

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy — Ninth Circuit

Justice Sonia Sotomayor — Tenth Ciruit