Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

Biography and Career

Clarence Thomas, born June 23, 1948, is an American lawyer and jurist who has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1991. He is the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court, after Thurgood Marshall.

Thomas grew up in Pin Point, Georgia, a small coastal town. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and Yale Law School in 1974. After working for a short time as a lawyer in Missouri, Thomas was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as an assistant attorney general for civil rights. In 1990, President Bush nominated Thomas to the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Supreme Court Tenure

Thomas's confirmation hearings were highly controversial, with allegations of sexual harassment made against him by Anita Hill. Despite these allegations, Thomas was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 52-48.

Thomas has been a conservative voice on the Supreme Court. He has often sided with the Court's other conservative justices in cases involving affirmative action, campaign finance, and gun rights. Thomas has also been a strong supporter of states' rights and has criticized the federal government's role in various areas.

Legacy

Clarence Thomas is a complex and controversial figure who has had a significant impact on American law and politics. His conservative views have often put him at odds with the Court's liberal justices, but he has also been a strong advocate for states' rights and individual liberty.