Clarence Thomas

Justice Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) has been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1991. He is considered to be part of the "conservative wing" in the current court. He is the second African-American to serve on the nation's highest court (Justice Thurgood Marshall was the first) and, until the appointment of Chief Justice John Roberts in 2005, was the youngest justice.

Early career

He served as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri from 1974-1977, an attorney with Monsanto from 1977-1979 and Legislative Assistant to Senator John Danforth from 1979-1981.

Related Topics:
Attorney General - Missouri - 1974 - 1977 - Attorney - Monsanto - 1979 - Legislative Assistant - John Danforth - 1981

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In 1981, he began his rise through the Reagan administration. From 1981-1982, he served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the US Department of Education ("DOE"), and as Chairman of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") from 1982-1990. Thomas cautiously accepted these assignments aware of the public thrust for placing minorities in government positions.

Related Topics:
1981 - Reagan - 1982 - Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights - US Department of Education - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - 1990 - Minorities

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In 1990, President George H. W. Bush nominated Thomas to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. At first, the nomination appeared to be stuck in the Senate Judiciary Committee, until a copy of a "documents request" from the committee (which at the time was controlled by the Democrats and chaired by Senator Joe Biden) was leaked to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal reprinted the documents request, taking up one-quarter of the op-ed page. In the ensuing negative publicity surrounding the documents request, Thomas's nomination was discharged from the committee. Thomas was confirmed by the Senate in March 1990.

Related Topics:
George H. W. Bush - United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - Joe Biden - Wall Street Journal - 1990

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