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Clarence Thomas

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description Clarence Thomas Overview

Clarence Thomas is an American jurist who became the second African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court following his confirmation in 1991. Nominated by President George H. W. Bush, he succeeded Thurgood Marshall and brought a conservative, originalist approach to constitutional interpretation.

Throughout his tenure, he has focused on limiting federal power and interpreting the Constitution according to its historical meaning. He is currently the longest-serving justice on the Court.

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When did Clarence Thomas join the Supreme Court?

Clarence Thomas was confirmed in 1991. President George H. W. Bush nominated him to succeed Justice Thurgood Marshall.

What was Clarence Thomas’s role before the Supreme Court?

Before joining the Court, Thomas served as chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and later as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Those roles preceded his 1991 confirmation.

What judicial philosophy is Clarence Thomas associated with?

Thomas is commonly associated with conservative originalism, which emphasizes the Constitution’s original public meaning. His opinions often place strong weight on text, historical practice, and limits on federal power.

Why is Clarence Thomas historically significant?

He became the second African American justice to serve on the United States Supreme Court. His appointment followed Thurgood Marshall, the Court’s first African American justice.