Clarence Thomas

Date of Birth: June 23, 1948

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Biography

Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was born in Pin Point, Georgia, a small, predominantly African American community near Savannah. Thomas was raised by his maternal grandparents in Savannah after his father abandoned the family and his mother struggled to make ends meet. Despite growing up in poverty, Thomas excelled academically, ultimately graduating from the College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and Yale Law School in 1974. Thomas began his legal career as an Assistant Attorney General in Missouri, later working as a lawyer in the private sector and for various federal agencies. His career in public service included positions as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education and Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated Thomas to the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall. His confirmation hearings were highly contentious, featuring allegations of sexual harassment by former colleague Anita Hill. Despite the controversy, Thomas was confirmed by a narrow Senate vote. Since joining the Court, Thomas has been known for his conservative views and originalist approach to constitutional interpretation. He is also noted for his silence during oral arguments, preferring to listen rather than question the attorneys presenting their cases.

5 Interesting Facts about Clarence Thomas

1. Clarence Thomas is the second African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

2. He is known for his silence during oral arguments, having gone a decade without asking a single question from 2006 to 2016.

3. Thomas was influenced by his grandfather’s strong work ethic and Catholic faith, which played significant roles in his upbringing.

4. He authored an autobiography titled “My Grandfather’s Son,” which details his rise from poverty to the nation’s highest court.

5. Thomas has been married twice and has one child, a son named Jamal Adeen Thomas.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Clarence Thomas

1. “I don’t believe in quotas. America was founded on a philosophy of individual rights, not group rights.”

2. “Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.”

3. “I have come here not to replace Justice Thurgood Marshall. I could never replace Justice Thurgood Marshall. But I am here to succeed him.”

4. “The Constitution does not protect a right to abortion. That right, like other substantive due process rights, is not tethered to any text in the Constitution.”

5. “My job is to interpret the Constitution as it was understood by the people who ratified it.”