Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas missed oral arguments in Washington on March 21 after being hospitalized. Thomas, 73, “is unable to be present today,” Chief Justice John Roberts said from the bench as proceedings opened. Thomas “will participate in consideration and decision of the cases on the basis of the briefs and the transcripts of oral argument,” he added. Roberts made no mention of why Thomas, the second-oldest justice on the nation’s top court, wasn’t present. The Supreme Court announced late Sunday that Thomas had been hospitalized two days prior after experiencing flu-like symptoms and had been diagnosed with an infection. The infection was not related to COVID-19, a spokeswoman for the court told The Epoch Times in an email. Thomas’ condition was improving and he expected to be released from Sibley Memorial Hospital on Monday or Tuesday, according to the court. No updates were available Monday on Thomas, the …