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The Honorable '''Clarence Thomas''' is an [[Associate Justice]] of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]].

The Honorable '''Clarence Thomas''' is an [[Associate Justice]] of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]].

Justice Thomas has consistently adhered to an interpretation of the [[U.S. Constitution]] based on [[original intent]], which has included opposing [[Roe v. Wade]], homosexual rights, federal interference with state sovereignty, the [[Dormant Commerce Clause]] and constitutional limits on punitive damages. He has utilized and trained more conservative law clerks than any other Justice.  He has an unblemished record of service on the Court since 1991 and has never had to recuse himself from a case due to activity off the bench. Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] rarely disagrees with Justice Thomas, but one example of disagreement was when Justice Thomas provided the fifth vote against the government in a seizure of nearly a million dollars in cash from a traveler who had failed to fill out a disclosure form.

Justice Thomas is highly respected for adhering to an interpretation of the [[U.S. Constitution]] based on its original text and meaning, which has included limiting federal powers. He has utilized and trained more conservative law clerks than any other Justice.  He has an unblemished record of service on the Court since 1991 and has never had to recuse himself from a case due to activity off the bench. He is often compared to Justice [[Antonin Scalia]].

==Early life==

==Early life==

== 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. [[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".   

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 desperately opposed his nomination. [[Liberal]] attempts to block his confirmation through unfounded allegations about several crude comments to one woman, then a liberal pro-abortion law professor, were unsuccessful.   None of her allegations were ever substantiated. 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]]