Clarence Thomas: Difference between revisions
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Unlike Marshall, Thomas is very [[American conservatism|conservative]], arguably the most conservative on the current court. He rejects that the [[due process]] in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment guarantee the right to an [[abortion]] or engage in homosexual behavior, as he has opposed the ruling of ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and dissented in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]''. Thomas espouses a strict constructionist view on the [[Commerce Clause]] to limit the power of the federal government to regulate intrastate activities. He also generally favor the [[law enforcement]] over criminal defendants in search and seizure cases. | Unlike Marshall, Thomas is very [[American conservatism|conservative]], arguably the most conservative on the current court. He rejects that the [[due process]] in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment guarantee the right to an [[abortion]] or engage in homosexual behavior, as he has opposed the ruling of ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and dissented in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]''. Thomas espouses a strict constructionist view on the [[Commerce Clause]] to limit the power of the federal government to regulate intrastate activities. He also generally favor the [[law enforcement]] over criminal defendants in search and seizure cases. | ||
His spouse, [[Virginia Thomas|Virginia "Ginni" Thomas]] is a conservative activist. | His spouse, [[Virginia Thomas|Virginia "Ginni" Thomas]] is a conservative activist. In 2010, she called the Brandeis University phone number of Professor Anita Hill and left a voicemail asking for an apology for her accusations against Justice Thomas in his confirmation hearings years earlier. Professor Hill called this action "inappropriate" and reported the incident to police, who were able to confirm that it was indeed, Ginni Thomas that left the message. Ms. Thomas confirmed publicly that it was her that left the message and said that she meant no offense in the action, that it was an ""olive branch". There are varying opinions on whether her activity does, or does not, constitute the appearance of conflict of interest for Justice Thomas. | ||
Revision as of 11:01, 8 March 2023
Clarence Thomas is an American jurist who is currently serving as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. He was nominated by President George H. W. Bush and took his seat in 1991. Thomas is the only incumbent African-American justice on the court and the second one in history, after Thurgood Marshall, who was his predecessor. Prior to his career on the Supreme Court, he served as the chairman for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a judge on the District of Columbia circuit court.
His nomination was contentious. University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill, who had previously been Thomas's assistant at the EEOC, made allegations of sexual harassment against him, which Thomas denied. The Senate confirmed his appointment on a 52-48 vote.
Unlike Marshall, Thomas is very conservative, arguably the most conservative on the current court. He rejects that the due process in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment guarantee the right to an abortion or engage in homosexual behavior, as he has opposed the ruling of Roe v. Wade and dissented in Lawrence v. Texas. Thomas espouses a strict constructionist view on the Commerce Clause to limit the power of the federal government to regulate intrastate activities. He also generally favor the law enforcement over criminal defendants in search and seizure cases.
His spouse, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas is a conservative activist. In 2010, she called the Brandeis University phone number of Professor Anita Hill and left a voicemail asking for an apology for her accusations against Justice Thomas in his confirmation hearings years earlier. Professor Hill called this action "inappropriate" and reported the incident to police, who were able to confirm that it was indeed, Ginni Thomas that left the message. Ms. Thomas confirmed publicly that it was her that left the message and said that she meant no offense in the action, that it was an ""olive branch". There are varying opinions on whether her activity does, or does not, constitute the appearance of conflict of interest for Justice Thomas.