They say that silence is golden and, apparently, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas agrees. Everyone get out your party hats and balloons, because yesterday marked a ten year anniversary worth celebrating: Justice Thomas has officially gone an entire decade without asking a single question from the bench of the Supreme Court.

The last time Thomas uttered anything at all from the bench? A little over three years ago on January 14, 2013. The country erupted in cheers and excitement as Thomas spoke his first words in almost seven years of silence from the bench: “well–he did not–.” While these were the only words captured by the court transcript on that monumental day, spectators in the court claim that Thomas was making a tasteful joke about the uselessness of a law degree from his alma mater, Yale. The subsequent laughter recorded in the courtroom seems to support those claims.

The last time Thomas asked a question? Well, since yesterday marked the ten year anniversary of his inquisitive silence, that puts his last question on February 22, 2006. To put that into perspective, try to remember what you were doing on this day in 2006. Perhaps, re-watching the first “High School Musical” for the fiftieth time? Singing along to Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway?” Maybe even getting excited about the release of the Nintendo DS Lite! 2006 was a long time ago. He asked the question in the middle of Holmes v. South Carolina, a contentious case about the death penalty. Ironically enough, the question almost seems like it was a statement in the form of a question:

Counsel, before you change subjects, isn’t it more accurate that the trial court actually found that the evidence met the Gregory standard?

After approximately eighteen lines of text in the court transcript (which has particularly large margins and is in a font much bigger than Times New Roman), the attorney Thomas had spoken up to correct was shut down, and Thomas returned to his state of hibernation for another few years. Who knows if he will ever speak again!

Thomas is supposedly a proponent of more listening on the Supreme Court and thinks that it is more in his nature to listen than to ask a bunch of questions. Well, hey, to each their own. If he thinks he can do his job best by just sitting back and taking it all in, he can go for it. You keep doing you, Justice Thomas!

Alexandra Simone

Alex Simone is an Editorial Senior Fellow at Law Street and a student at The George Washington University, studying Political Science. She is passionate about law and government, but also enjoys the finer things in life like watching crime dramas and enjoying a nice DC brunch. Contact Alex at ASimone@LawStreetmedia.com

The post Ten Years of Silence: Will Justice Clarence Thomas Ever Speak Up Again? appeared first on Law Street.

An interview is often thought of as a one-sided question and answer routine. A nerve-wracking one at that. Remember, though, that an interview is supposed to be a dialogue. Your interviewer wants not only to hear your responses, but to hear what you’re curious about. Asking appropriate questions will also minimize the risk of confusion or surprise if you’re offered the position. Unawareness won’t help either side. This is your chance to see if this is the right fit for both of you. So, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask. Just don’t interrupt.

Below are a couple examples of the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to interview questions. I’ll post about this often, so keep checking back!

What are the responsibilities the position entails? What does a day or week typically look like? Even if the job description is detailed, it is good to know the day to day. If you apply for an associate editor position it might be a surprise if they have you filing or answering phone calls. This way you can cross check and minimize the risk of disappointment.

How long have you worked here? What do you like about the position? Talking to an employee about the company is a good way to judge the work environment. If they have only been there a short time, and mention that everyone is new (and it’s not a start up) this might raise a red flag about turn over rates. If no one wants to stay, it’s likely that there’s a reason.

There is, however, a line. And too many people cross it. Below are the things you just don’t ask yet.

How much will I make? I can’t even. I am always so surprised when people think this is an acceptable question during an interview. Especially an initial one. It’s presumptuous. It’s tacky. It’s going to hurt your chances of getting hired. Of course, this is a factor that you might weigh while making a decision about your career, but save that chatter for when you’re officially offered the position. Employers want you to be more “You better work, bitch” and less “If it don’t make dollars, it don’t make sense.”

How much vacation time do I get? Really? You’re asking about time off before your first day? Don’t be lazy. Or, don’t appear lazy at the very least.

Stay tuned for more interview advice here every week!

Happy hunting!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

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