Knifefight Afterdance
2011-02-12 20:01:26 UTC
Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) is an Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Thomas is the second
Black man to serve on the Court, after Thurgood Marshall, whom
he succeeded.
Justice Thomas grew up in Georgia and was educated at the College of
the Holy Cross and at Yale Law School. In 1974, he was appointed an
Assistant Attorney General in Missouri and subsequently practiced law
there in the private sector.
In 1979, Justice Thomas became a legislative assistant to Missouri
Senator John Danforth and in 1981 was appointed Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. In 1982, President
Ronald Reagan appointed Justice Thomas Chairman of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and he served in that position until
1990, when President George H. W. Bush nominated him for a seat on the
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
On July 1, 1991, Clarence Thomas was nominated by Bush to fill
Marshall's seat on the United States Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate
confirmed Thomas by a vote of 5248.
Since joining the Court, Justice Thomas has taken a textualist approach
to judging, seeking to uphold what he sees as the original meaning of
the United States Constitution and statutes. He is generally viewed as
among the most conservative members of the Court. Thomas has often
approached federalism issues in a way that limits the power of the
federal government and expands power of state and local governments. At
the same time, Justice Thomas' opinions have generally supported a
strong executive branch within the federal government.
Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Thomas is the second
Black man to serve on the Court, after Thurgood Marshall, whom
he succeeded.
Justice Thomas grew up in Georgia and was educated at the College of
the Holy Cross and at Yale Law School. In 1974, he was appointed an
Assistant Attorney General in Missouri and subsequently practiced law
there in the private sector.
In 1979, Justice Thomas became a legislative assistant to Missouri
Senator John Danforth and in 1981 was appointed Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. In 1982, President
Ronald Reagan appointed Justice Thomas Chairman of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and he served in that position until
1990, when President George H. W. Bush nominated him for a seat on the
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
On July 1, 1991, Clarence Thomas was nominated by Bush to fill
Marshall's seat on the United States Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate
confirmed Thomas by a vote of 5248.
Since joining the Court, Justice Thomas has taken a textualist approach
to judging, seeking to uphold what he sees as the original meaning of
the United States Constitution and statutes. He is generally viewed as
among the most conservative members of the Court. Thomas has often
approached federalism issues in a way that limits the power of the
federal government and expands power of state and local governments. At
the same time, Justice Thomas' opinions have generally supported a
strong executive branch within the federal government.