Clarence Thomas

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Clarence Thomas's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court began on September 10, 1991. These hearings became a national spectacle, especially due to the testimony of Anita Hill, who accused Thomas of sexual harassment. The hearings featured a critical examination of Thomas's qualifications, character, and the implications of identity politics in America.

Clarence Thomas was confirmed as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court on October 23, 1991, following a contentious and highly publicized confirmation process. The process was marked by allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill, a former colleague of Thomas. Despite the allegations, Thomas was confirmed by the Senate with a narrow vote margin of 52-48.

Justice Clarence Thomas was part of the U.S. Supreme Court majority in the landmark decision Bush v. Gore, which effectively resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. The decision effectively halted the recount of votes in Florida, granting Bush the electoral votes needed for victory. Thomas, known for his conservative judicial philosophy, sided with the majority in the 5-4 decision.

In the landmark case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a dissenting opinion. The Supreme Court decision was pivotal in striking down the Bush Administration's plan to try Guantanamo Bay detainees through military commissions, stating that they violated both U.S. military law and the Geneva Conventions. Thomas's dissent argued in favor of the executive powers to conduct the War on Terror.

Justice Clarence Thomas was in the majority for the landmark Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The decision, handed down on January 21, 2010, allowed for unlimited spending by corporations and unions in political campaigns, fundamentally changing the landscape of American campaign finance. Thomas concurred with the majority, emphasizing free speech rights.

Clarence Thomas was a part of the Supreme Court majority in the Shelby County v. Holder decision, a significant ruling that invalidated a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Court's decision on June 25, 2013, eliminated the requirement for certain jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination to seek federal approval before changing voting laws, fundamentally impacting voting rights protections.

Justice Thomas wrote a concurring opinion in the Supreme Court's decision on the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case. Decided on June 4, 2018, the case involved a baker's refusal to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple due to religious beliefs. While the majority opinion focused on respect and religious neutrality, Thomas emphasized free speech considerations in his opinion.

On February 19, 2019, Clarence Thomas became the longest-serving African American justice in U.S. Supreme Court history, surpassing the previous record held by Thurgood Marshall. Appointed by President George H.W. Bush, Thomas is known for his originalist views on the Constitution and his relatively quiet demeanor during oral arguments. His tenure has been marked by a commitment to conservative jurisprudence.

Justice Clarence Thomas was among those in dissent in the landmark case Bostock v. Clayton County, where the Supreme Court ruled on June 15, 2020, that the protections against workplace discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extend to sexual orientation and gender identity. The majority opinion was a significant victory for LGBTQ rights, but Thomas disagreed with the interpretation of the law.

Justice Thomas was a significant figure in the Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Decided on June 24, 2022, the decision removed federal protection for abortion rights and returned the power to regulate abortion laws to individual states. Thomas authored a concurring opinion suggesting a re-examination of other substantive due process precedents.