Clarence Thomas

Details

Birth

June 23, 1948 · Savannah, Georgia

Death

Living

Law school

yale university

Prior experience

U.s. court of appeals judge

Biography

Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991. Born in Pin Point, Georgia, Thomas grew up in poverty and was raised primarily by his grandparents. He attended Conception Seminary College and later transferred to Holy Cross College, where he graduated in 1971. Thomas earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1974. After working briefly in private practice and as an assistant attorney general in Missouri, he served as legislative assistant to Senator John Danforth from 1979 to 1981. Thomas subsequently held positions in the Reagan administration, including Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education and Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1982 to 1990. In 1990, President Bush appointed Thomas to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. His nomination to the Supreme Court the following year became highly controversial due to allegations of sexual harassment made by law professor Anita Hill during his Senate confirmation hearings. Despite the contentious proceedings, Thomas was confirmed by a narrow 52-48 vote, becoming the second African American to serve on the Court. Thomas is known for his originalist judicial philosophy and strict constructionist approach to constitutional interpretation. Among his most significant opinions are his concurrence in McDonald v. Chicago (2010) regarding Second Amendment rights and his majority opinion in Good News Club v. Milford Central School (2001) on religious expression. Thomas has established a reputation for asking few questions during oral arguments and for writing opinions that challenge established precedent, making him one of the Court's most conservative members throughout his tenure spanning over three decades.

Notable opinions

• District of Columbia v. Heller
• Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Peña