Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Dissents as Court Declines Florida’s Challenge to Other States’ Driver Licensing Practices
WASHINGTON — Justice Clarence Thomas sharply criticized the Supreme Court on Tuesday for refusing to hear a dispute brought by Florida against California and Washington over their issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, arguing the decision left Florida without any judicial forum to address alleged public safety risks.
In a dissent joined by Justice Samuel Alito, Thomas said the Court failed to fulfill its constitutional duty under Article III to resolve controversies between states. The Supreme Court is the only tribunal with original jurisdiction over such cases.
“ If this Court does not exercise jurisdiction over a controversy between two States, then the complaining State has no judicial forum in which to seek relief,” Thomas wrote.
Florida had asked the Court to hear its claim that California and Washington violated federal commercial driver’s license standards by issuing licenses without verifying lawful immigration status or sufficient English proficiency. Those standards, set by federal law and regulations, require applicants to pass a skills test, demonstrate English comprehension to read road signs and communicate with officials, and meet immigration requirements.
The suit gained urgency after a deadly August 2025 crash on a Florida highway. Truck driver Harjinder Singh, an Indian national in the United States illegally, allegedly made an illegal U-turn, killing three people. Singh held commercial licenses from Washington and California and reportedly struggled with English, according to court records and bodycam footage cited in the case.
Thomas emphasized that the allegations raised serious questions about road safety involving large commercial trucks and urged the Court to allow Florida to present its claims.
The majority of the justices denied Florida’s request in a brief, unsigned order with no explanation. The Court has historically exercised discretion in deciding whether to accept original jurisdiction cases between states.
