Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
| Assumed office October 23, 1991 | |
| Nominated by | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Thurgood Marshall |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| In office March 12, 1990 – October 23, 1991 | |
| Nominated by | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Robert Bork |
| Succeeded by | Judith Rogers |
| Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | |
| In office May 6, 1982 – March 12, 1990 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Eleanor Holmes Norton |
| Succeeded by | Evan Kemp |
| Assistant Secretary of Education for the Office for Civil Rights | |
| In office 1981–1982 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Cynthia Brown |
| Succeeded by | Harry Singleton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 23, 1948 Pin Point, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican[1] |
| Spouse(s) |
Kathy Ambush
(m. 1971; div. 1984) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Conception Seminary College College of the Holy Cross (BA) Yale University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) is the Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.[2] Thomas has been a Justice since 1991. He is the second African American to serve on the court, after Thurgood Marshall. During his confirmation process, Professor Anita Hill accused Thomas of sexual harassment. Regardless, Thomas was confirmed in October 1991.
Early life
[change | change source]Clarence Thomas was born in Pin Point, Georgia.[3] His father left his family when he was only two years old.[4] He did not meet his son Clarence again until Clarence was nine years old.[5] This left his mother, Leola Anderson, to take care of the family.
Clarence and his brother were sent to live with his mother's parents in Savannah, Georgia.[6] His grandfather wanted him to become a priest. Thomas was sent to St. John Vianney Minor Seminary, an all-white boarding school near Savannah.[3] In 1968 he transferred to the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.[7] He gave up all ideas of becoming a priest after the death of Martin Luther King Jr.. Thomas then obtained a law degree at Yale University.[7]
Career
[change | change source]After Yale he returned to Missouri and worked for State Attorney General, John Danforth.[3] in 1977 Danforth was elected to the U.S. Senate. Thomas became a corporate lawyer for the Monsanto Company. Two years later he became Danforth's legislative aide in Washington, D.C..[3] President Ronald Reagan offered Thomas a job as the assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education.[3] He then became the chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Thomas was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush.[3] In 1991, Thurgood Marshall retired from the Supreme Court. Bush nominated Thomas to replace him.[3]
Supreme Court
[change | change source]He had a hard time getting approved so that he could become a Supreme Court justice. During the 1991 confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas, law professor Anita Hill testified that Thomas had subjected her to repeated sexual harassment while she worked under him in the early 1980s.
Hill alleged that Thomas frequently made sexually explicit remarks in workplace settings, including discussions of pornographic films and performers, as well as graphic descriptions of sexual acts. According to her testimony, these conversations were often initiated by Thomas and were unwelcome. She stated that he described scenes involving group sex and referenced his own sexual interests in explicit detail.
Hill also testified that Thomas made comments about his own anatomy and sexual prowess, including references to his genitalia. One of the most widely reported allegations involved Thomas allegedly discussing a pornographic film featuring a performer known as “Long Dong Silver.” Hill said he brought up the subject in a workplace conversation, which she found inappropriate and disturbing.
In addition, Hill stated that Thomas made remarks about women’s bodies and sexual characteristics, and that he repeatedly asked her out despite her lack of interest. She testified that she felt pressured to tolerate the behavior due to the power imbalance in their professional relationship.
Thomas denied all of the allegations, stating that the claims were fabricated. During his testimony, he described the hearings as a “high-tech lynching” and rejected Hill’s account entirely.
The Senate Judiciary Committee ultimately allowed both individuals to testify publicly. Thomas was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a narrow vote of 52–48.
The hearings became a major national event and played a significant role in shaping public discussion around workplace sexual harassment, particularly regarding power dynamics, credibility, and reporting barriers. The Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 52-48. All Republicans, except Bob Packwood of Oregon and James Jeffords of Vermont, voted for confirmation.[8]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Miller, Anita (2005). The Complete Transcripts of the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill Hearings: October 11, 12, 13, 1991. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-0-89733-408-2.
- ↑ Thomas, Clarence, My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir, HarperCollins Publishers New York, New York, 2007, page 3
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Clarence Thomas". The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ↑ Hall, Timothy L., Supreme Court Justices: A Biographical Dictionary, Facts on File, Inc., New York, New York, page 421
- ↑ Thomas, Clarence, My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir, HarperCollins Publishers New York, New York, 2007, page 1
- ↑ "Clarence Thomas Biography". Bio. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- 1 2 "Alumni Success Stories". College of the Holy Cross. Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ↑ Horvitz, Paul F. (16 October 1991). "Senate Confirms Thomas, 52-48, Following a Final, Bitter Debate". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
