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== Appointment to the United States Supreme Court ==

== Appointment to the United States Supreme Court ==

In 1991, upon the death of Justice [[Thurgood Marshall]], President [[George H.W. Bush]] nominated Clarence Thomas to fill the newly vacant seat.  Supporters of abortion opposed his nomination, but [[liberal]] attempts to block his confirmation through unconfirmed allegations of offensive statements to a woman were unsuccessful.  However, the unproven allegations did persuade Democratic Senator Robert Byrd, a former [[Ku Klux Klan]] member, to change his vote from "yes" for confirmation to "no".   

In 1991, upon the death of Justice [[Thurgood Marshall]], President [[George H.W. Bush]] nominated Clarence Thomas to fill the newly vacant seat.  Supporters of abortion opposed his nomination. [[Liberal]] attempts to block his confirmation through allegations about offensive statements to one woman, then a law professor, were unsuccessful.  However, the unproven allegations did persuade Democratic Senator [[Robert Byrd]], a former [[Ku Klux Klan]] member, to change his vote from "yes" for confirmation to "no".   

Thomas was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 52-48, which was at the time the narrowest confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee in history.

Thomas was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 52-48, which was at the time the narrowest confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee in history.

[[Category:US Judges]]

[[Category:US Judges]]