Profession: 108th US Supreme Court Justice
Biography: Thomas succeeded Thurgood Marshall to the United States Supreme Court, coming as the second African American to serve on the Court. He was nominated by George H. W. Bush in 1990, with the Senate confirmation hearings marked by bitter partisan rivalry.
Thomas was accused of having sexually harassed Anita Hill, an attorney that had earlier worked under him at the Department of Education. Against this, Thomas and his supporters asserted that this was a fabrication motivated by political opposition. Ultimately Thomas was appointed by a vote for 52 to 48.
In terms of his jurisprudence, Thomas is a textualist whose interpretation of the United States Constitution emphasises its original meaning as intended by those that drafted it.
Born: June 23, 1948
Birthplace: Savannah, Georgia, UA
Age: 76 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Cancer
Historical Events
- 1991-09-10 US Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings on Clarence Thomas' nomination to the US Supreme Court
- 1991-10-07 Law Professor Anita Hill accuses Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of making sexually inappropriate comments to her
- 1991-10-09 Bush declares "total confidence" in nominee Clarence Thomas
- 1991-10-11 Law Professor Anita Hill testifies Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her
- 1991-10-15 Clarence Thomas is confirmed as a US Supreme Court Justice (52-48)
- 1991-10-23 Clarence Thomas sworn in as US Supreme Court Justice
Bryan Stevenson
Earl Warren
John Sirica
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr
William Blackstone
William H. Webster