Has the Cat Got Clarence Thomas' Tongue?

Monday was the start of the Supreme Court's new term.  The new Supreme Court Justice, Elena Kagan, has taken her seat with two other women on the Supreme Court.  That is a somewhat historic event, so why is this worthy of a blog post?  Here is a paragraph from the story that I find quite humorous.

In the first hour, though, she was among eight justices who asked questions. The ninth, Justice Clarence Thomas hasn't asked a question in more than four years.

Yes, you read that right.  Clarence Thomas has not asked a single question in FOUR YEARS.  Really?  If he was a mute, or had a speech impairment, or something like that, I could understand not wanting to speak.  Even if that were the case, I would still imagine he could write a question down and have it read/asked by another justice or even an aide.  I'm sure that would be permissible.  But to be fully able bodied and not ask a single question in a Supreme Court case for FOUR YEARS?  Incredible.