Presently serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Clarence Thomas has made history in America with his long-term service as a Justice. Following the end of the professional career of Anthony Kennedy, the Senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Thomas is currently occupying the noble position.
Well known as one of the conservative members of the Supreme Court, Thomas was picked by the 41st president of the United States, George H.W. Bush, to replace Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. This made Thomas the second black American to occupy such a prestigious position. He has written several books, including his autobiography titled My Grandfather’s Son.
Clarence Thomas Was Privileged to Work Under an Attorney General After Obtaining His JD
After earning a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 1974, Clarence was admitted to the Missouri bar on the 13th of September 1974. With that, the Georgian native had the privilege of working under State Attorney General, John Danforth, as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri at Missouri bar; he held the position from 1974 to 1977 as the only Afro-American on the team.
His work portfolio as Assistant Attorney General entailed working under different divisions, including the criminal appeals division and the revenue taxation division. In retrospect, Thomas considers his post as Assistant Attorney General to be the best job he ever had.
Upon Danforth’s election to the United States Senate, the African-American lawyer move on to another position in St. Louis, Missouri as an attorney with the Monsanto Chemical Company. He was called back to work for his former boss (Danforth), to handle energy issues for the Senate Commerce Committee as a Legislative Assistant; the position lasted from 1979 to 1981. At this stage, Danforth forged a bond with Clarence Thomas which made him instrumental in championing the black American for the Supreme Court.
When the Regan administration came in, Thomas joined the U.S. Department of Education. This happened in 1981 and he worked for the Office for Civil Rights as Assistant Secretary of Education. The next year, the attorney moved to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to assume the position of its chairman; he remained there until 1990.
President George H. W. Bush Nominated Him to Become a Judge In 1989
On the 30th of October 1989, he was selected by President George H.W. Bush to become a Judge representing the District of Columbia at the United States Court of Appeals after Robert Bork’s departure. Though he initially resisted his nomination, Clarence Thomas gained the support of black-Americans like William Coleman who served as the Transportation Secretary.
His confirmation by the United States Senate on the 6th of March 1990 came without hitches and his commission was granted on the same day.
Thomas’ 19-months stay on the position was a smooth sail, the post made it possible for him to build profitable relationships with the likes of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a fellow federal judge.
And Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1991
Things happened quickly for the Georgian-born lawyer as he was selected among the five candidates to become Supreme Court Judge soon after his confirmation in 1990; this happened after Justice William Brennan stepped down from the position.
After due deliberations, Judge David Scouter was selected but coincidentally, Justice Thurgood Marshall ended his professional career in 1991, which resulted in Clarence Thomas succeeding him as he was nominated by George H.W. Bush once again.
His confirmation was an eventful one with the narrowest margin for approval in a century – 52-48 votes. This was as a result of the sexual misconduct allegations laid against him by his former employee, Anita Hill. Currently, Thomas Clarence is serving as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
He has an upcoming documentary titled Created Equal: Clarence Thomas In His Own Words. It would revolve around his political awakening, faith, judicial philosophy, as well as the role race has played in his life.
Clarence Thomas Was Raised By His Maternal Grandparents
The Associate Justice was born in a predominantly black community known as PinPoint in Georgia. Born on the 23rd of June 1948, he is the second child of M.C Thomas and Leola Williams. He has two siblings and was brought up in Savannah, Georgia. His father was a farmer while his mother was a domestic worker.
At a very young age, Thomas’ father abandoned the family and left his mother to carter for the children. As her menial job wasn’t able to provide substantial income to take care of the family, Clarence Thomas and his siblings moved in with their maternal grandparents.
The black-American was seven years old when he relocated to Savannah, Georgia where he was raised by his grandparents, Myers and Christine Anderson. The lawyer’s life took a positive turn as his grandfather took full responsibility for his welfare. Thomas has described him as the greatest man he has ever known.
The Associate Justice’s First Attempt at Marriage Ended in Divorce
Clarence Thomas has been married more than once. He found love during his days in college, dating Kathy Grace Ambush throughout his college years. What they had didn’t end in college as they remained an item after graduation.
Clarence and Kathy decided to take their relationship to another phase and got married in 1971. However, their dream of spending the rest of their lives together was short-lived as ten years later (in 1981), they started working towards ending the marriage.
They eventually got divorced in 1984 and the reason for the end of the marriage is best known to them. They had a son named Jamal Adeen, he was born in 1973.
He Is Currently Married To Virginia Lamp
After the end of his marriage in 1984, the Associate Justice stayed single until 1987 when he decided to change his marital status. Thomas Clarence once again tied the knot with Virginia Lamp; she works as the aide of Dick Armey, Republican Congressman, and as a lobbyist.
In 1997, Thomas and his wife became foster parents to his nephew Mark Martin Jr. who was six years old. Mark was formerly living with his mum in Savannah public housing.
Virginia Lamp is active in conservative politics. She has served in various capacities: as a consultant to the Heritage Foundation and as president of Liberty Central which she founded. Thomas Clarence’s wife is a big fan of President Donald Trump.,
