Justice Clarence Thomas has long been a controversial figure, often being hit with sharp criticism and racist attacks from some members of the left.

Yet none of that seems to intimidate the Republican appointee, as a new report shows that has been more willing to dissent from majority opinions than any of his colleagues. 

Justice Thomas has issued dissents in four of 17 opinions

That's according to Newsweek, which recently put out a breakdown of how each Supreme Court justice has voted over the most recent term.

It found that out of the 17 opinions which have been published thus far, Thomas dissented in four of them. By comparison, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Ketanji Brown Jackson have dissented three times each.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented twice and Justice Elena Kagan dissented once. Amy Coney Barret dissented once in full and twice in part whereas Justice Samuel Alito dissented once in full and once in part.

For their part, both Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh have yet to raise a dissenting voice this term.

Constitutional law expert: Thomas "has never been shy" about taking a stand

Stephen Wermiel is a professor at American University Washington College of Law, and he indicated that Thomas' maverick nature is no new development.

"Justice Thomas has long written more dissenting and concurring opinions than just about anyone else on the Court," Wermiel explained in an interview with Newsweek.

The constitutional law expert noted how during the current term, Thomas "was tied for the most of both dissenting and concurring opinions."

"He has his own views of the Constitution and federal laws, and he has never been shy about putting them out there whenever the spirit moves him," Wermiel continued.

"Thomas has long spelled out an agenda of established doctrines that he would overrule; he is not the least bit shy about having a list," the academic added.

University of North Carolina law professor says Thomas' record "is not surprising"

Burton Craige holds the title of Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina, and he offered a similar perspective.

Craige told Newsweek that it is "not surprising" that Thomas would regularly be at odds with his fellow justices as this has been "true for some time."

"It is because he takes the most extreme positions contrary to settled constitutional law," Gerhardt said of Thomas.  "He challenges precedent more extensively than any other Justice."