Clarence Thomas is an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court born in 1948 in Pin Point, Georgia. He joined the Court on October 23, 1991, after a 52-48 Senate vote, and is the second African American to serve on it.
Who Is Clarence Thomas?
Clarence Thomas is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He is recognized for his tenure of more than 34 years on the Court and his conservative judicial record. Examples of his earlier roles include Missouri assistant attorney general, EEOC chairman, and federal appeals judge.
What Are the Basic Facts About Clarence Thomas?
The table below lists key biographical facts. Each row names an attribute and each value is stated in the right column.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Clarence Thomas |
| Date of birth | June 23, 1948 |
| Age | 78 |
| Birthplace | Pin Point, Georgia, United States |
| Education | College of the Holy Cross (BA, 1971), Yale Law School (JD, 1974) |
| Position | Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States |
| Nominated by | President George H.W. Bush |
| Confirmation vote | 52 to 48 (October 15, 1991) |
| Sworn in | October 23, 1991 |
| Predecessor | Thurgood Marshall |
Where Was Clarence Thomas Born and Raised?
Thomas was born on June 23, 1948, in Pin Point, a small, economically depressed community built on the grounds of a former slave plantation south of Savannah. He grew up there with his older sister Emma Mae and younger brother Myers Lee.
He and his brother were later sent to live with their maternal grandparents in Savannah. When he graduated from high school in 1967, he was the only African American in his class.
Did Clarence Thomas Study to Become a Priest?
Yes, Clarence Thomas entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in Missouri in 1967. After one year as a seminarian, he abandoned his plans to become a priest. He then enrolled at Holy Cross.
What Did Clarence Thomas Study?
Clarence Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and a law degree from Yale Law School in 1974.
| Stage | Institution | Year |
|---|---|---|
| High school | Saint John Vianney Minor Seminary, Georgia | 1967 |
| Seminary study | Immaculate Conception Seminary, Missouri | 1967 to 1968 |
| Bachelor of Arts | College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts | 1971 |
| Juris Doctor | Yale Law School, Connecticut | 1974 |
He entered Yale Law School as part of an affirmative-action program for qualified minorities. He came to resent what he saw as a patronizing attitude toward him and other African American students.
What Was Clarence Thomas’s Career Before the Supreme Court?
Clarence Thomas worked in state government, private practice, the U.S. Senate, and federal agencies for 17 years before joining the Supreme Court. The table below lists each position by years served.
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| Assistant attorney general, Missouri | 1974 to 1977 |
| Attorney, Monsanto Company | 1977 to 1979 |
| Legislative assistant to Senator John Danforth | 1979 to 1981 |
| Assistant secretary for civil rights, U.S. Department of Education | 1981 to 1982 |
| Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | 1982 to 1990 |
| Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit | 1990 to 1991 |
Reagan named Thomas the eighth EEOC chairman on May 6, 1982. He served until March 8, 1990, the longest tenure of any chairman of the agency. President Bush nominated him to the D.C. Circuit on October 30, 1989, and the Senate confirmed him on March 6, 1990. He served on that court for 19 months before his Supreme Court nomination.
How Did Clarence Thomas Become a Supreme Court Justice?
Clarence Thomas became a Supreme Court justice after Thurgood Marshall retired in 1991 and the Senate confirmed him by a 52 to 48 vote on October 15, 1991.
The key steps are listed below:
- June 1991: Thurgood Marshall, then 82, created a vacancy by retiring.
- July 1, 1991: President Bush nominated Thomas.
- September 10, 1991: Confirmation hearings began before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- October 1991: An FBI report leaked, showing that former aide Anita Hill alleged sexual harassment. Thomas denied the charges.
- October 15, 1991: The Senate confirmed Thomas by 52 to 48, the narrowest Supreme Court confirmation vote of the twentieth century.
- October 23, 1991: Thomas was sworn in as an associate justice.
How Long Has Clarence Thomas Served on the Supreme Court?
Clarence Thomas has served since October 23, 1991, a tenure of more than 34 years. In May 2026, he became the second longest-serving justice in American history. He has also been the longest-serving member of the current Court since Anthony Kennedy retired in 2018.
Thomas has been the circuit justice for the Eleventh Circuit since February 1, 2006.
What Is Clarence Thomas’s Judicial Record?
Clarence Thomas is widely considered the Court’s most conservative member. He and Antonin Scalia emerged in the 1990s as the two most conservative justices.
Thomas and the conservative majority have overturned abortion as a constitutional right, ended affirmative action in college admissions, and sharply limited the Voting Rights Act.
What Controversies Have Surrounded Clarence Thomas?
Clarence Thomas has faced 2 main controversies: the 1991 Anita Hill allegation and reporting on undisclosed trips.
- The 1991 allegation: Anita Hill said Thomas sexually harassed her while she worked for him. Thomas denied the charges.
- Gift disclosure: He has faced criticism for accepting trips from a Republican megadonor without disclosing them. Thomas has said he was not required to disclose trips taken with friends.
- Recusal calls: He ignored calls to recuse himself from cases related to the election.
These controversies led, in part, to the Supreme Court adopting its own code of conduct in late 2023.
Who Is Clarence Thomas’s Family?
Clarence Thomas has been married to Virginia (Lamp) Thomas since May 30, 1987. He married Kathy Grace Ambush in 1971, and the couple had a son, Jamal Thomas, before divorcing in 1984.
People Also Ask About Clarence Thomas
How old is Clarence Thomas?
Clarence Thomas is 78 years old, born on June 23, 1948.
Where was Clarence Thomas born?
Clarence Thomas was born in Pin Point, Georgia, near Savannah.
When did Clarence Thomas join the Supreme Court?
Clarence Thomas was sworn in as an associate justice on October 23, 1991.
Who did Clarence Thomas replace on the Supreme Court?
Clarence Thomas replaced Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice.
What was the Senate vote to confirm Clarence Thomas?
The Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas by a vote of 52 to 48 on October 15, 1991.
Is Clarence Thomas the longest-serving Supreme Court justice?
No, but he became the second longest-serving justice in U.S. history in May 2026.
What Is Clarence Thomas Known For?
Clarence Thomas is known for serving on the Supreme Court since 1991, his 52-48 confirmation, and his conservative judicial record. He is the second African American to serve on the Court and the longest-serving member of the current Court.