Clarence Thomas Makes History as Second Longest-Serving Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas has reached a noteworthy milestone, becoming the second longest-serving justice in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, with a tenure spanning approximately 34 years and 195 days. This surpasses Justice Stephen J. Field, who served from 1863 to 1897.
Appointed by former President George H.W. Bush at 43, Thomas joined the court in October 1991, succeeding Justice Thurgood Marshall. In doing so, he became the second African American to serve on the court, following Marshall, who was prominent in civil rights litigation, including in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.
Now at 77, Thomas is inching closer to the all-time record held by Justice William O. Douglas, who served for 36 years, seven months, and eight days from 1939 to 1975. If Thomas remains in his position, he is projected to surpass this record by May 21, 2028.
Over the years, Thomas’ approach to his role has changed significantly. Initially, he was known for his near decade-long silence during oral arguments, where he rarely posed questions. He believed that listening, rather than interrupting with rapid inquiries, was more beneficial. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the court’s switch to a structured telephone format in 2020, he has taken to asking questions more frequently, a trend he has continued even after resuming in-person sessions.
The ideological makeup of the court has also transformed during his time. When Thomas first joined, the court was seen as more varied in ideology, yet his conservative views have increasingly gained traction and influence.
Scott Gerber, author of First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas, noted, “He’s incredibly consistent. He says what he thinks and does what he says.”
Gradually, the court has incorporated many of Thomas’ long-advocated positions, including stances on Second Amendment rights and a critical view of affirmative action. A notable moment came in 2022 with the case Dobbs v. Jackson, where he joined the majority in overturning Roe v. Wade, effectively ending nearly 50 years of established federal abortion rights. This decision was touted as a significant achievement that reflected his longstanding skepticism regarding the constitutional right to abortion.
At that time, Thomas remarked, “Therefore, future cases will need to revisit all of this court’s substantive due process precedents…We have a duty to ‘correct the errors’ established in those precedents.”
Thomas, hailing from a modest background, graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and went on to earn his law degree from Yale in 1974. His legal career began when he was admitted to the Missouri State Bar and subsequently served as an assistant attorney general for Missouri. By 1981, he was appointed as the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, and the following year, he became the chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a position he held until 1990. He then moved to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, appointed by President Bush.
Early Life
Clarence Thomas was born in 1948 in Pin Point, Georgia, a small community established by freed slaves. After his father left when he was two, his mother, Leora, raised him and his siblings in difficult conditions. They communicated primarily in Gullah, a Creole language. Following a fire, the family relocated to Savannah but later faced further financial hardships, leading Leora to send Thomas and his brother to live with their grandparents in 1955.
This move significantly changed Thomas’ upbringing; living with his grandfather introduced him to regular meals and indoor plumbing, which were previously lacking. His grandfather, a successful entrepreneur, emphasized hard work and education, putting Thomas in a segregated Catholic school where high academic standards were enforced.
Initially, Thomas aimed to become a priest and attended St. Pius X High School and later St. John Vianney Minor Seminary. While he was one of the first black students, he faced racism and isolation. Despite this, he excelled academically. However, his aspirations shifted in 1968 after he experienced disillusionment with the church’s civil rights stance following a troubling incident involving his classmates’ reactions to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. This catalyzed his decision to pursue law instead of the priesthood.
