Clarence Thomas is the second African-American Supreme Court Justice in United States history. He was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on July 1, 1991 and sworn in on October 23, 1991. A devout Catholic and conservative, Thomas has been a staunch defender of the Constitution and a champion of individual liberty.
Thomas was born in Pin Point, Georgia, on June 23, 1948, to Leola and M.C. Thomas. He was the second of three children, and the only son. After attending seminary school, he studied engineering at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating in 1971. He then attended Yale Law School, where he finished in 1974.
Thomas began his legal career as an assistant attorney general for Missouri in 1974. In 1979, he became an assistant secretary for civil rights in the Department of Education. In 1982, he moved to Washington, D.C., and served as the chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under President Reagan.
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Thomas to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On July 1, 1991, Bush nominated Thomas to the Supreme Court of the United States. He was confirmed by the Senate on October 15, 1991, and sworn in on October 23, 1991.
Since joining the Court, Thomas has consistently defended the Constitution and individual liberty. He has also been an advocate of traditional values and the rule of law. He has written numerous majority and dissenting opinions on topics ranging from abortion, same-sex marriage, affirmative action, and the death penalty. He has consistently voted to strike down laws and regulations that he believes infringe upon individual liberty.
Throughout his career, Thomas has been an advocate for racial equality and justice, believing that the only way to achieve true equality is through equal protection under the law. He has been a vocal critic of racial discrimination and has been an outspoken supporter of educational opportunities for African Americans.
Clarence Thomas has served on the Supreme Court for over three decades, making him the longest-serving justice in the Court’s history. He is widely respected for his commitment to the Constitution and individual liberty and is widely considered to be one of the most influential justices in the history of the Court.
