Clarence Thomas warns Supreme Court should not wade into politics

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Thursday criticized some in the judiciary for veering into the role of legislators and politicians, saying it's not for judges to make policy or to base decisions on their personal feelings or religious beliefs.

In an address at the University of Notre Dame, the longest-serving justice in part blamed judges who are "venturing into areas we should not have entered into" for contentiousness in the nomination process, particularly in the nominations of federal judges, who receive lifetime appointments.

"The court was thought to be the least dangerous branch, and we may have become the most dangerous," Thomas said. "And I think that's problematic."