Clarence Thomas: A Polarizing Figure on the Supreme Court

Following one of the most controversial confirmation battles in Senate history, Clarence Thomas began his career as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, and 32 years later, he remains a polarizing figure. Recently, Senate Democrats called for an investigation into Thomas' conduct after a report by ProPublica revealed that he had taken undisclosed luxury trips funded by a Dallas businessman over several decades. In response, Thomas claimed that he was advised that these trips did not need to be reported under disclosure rules but committed to adhering to new, stricter regulations. As one of the most conservative justices on a predominantly conservative Supreme Court, Thomas has long been a target of criticism from liberals, who have taken issue with his rulings and demeanor.
 

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Last summer, Clarence Thomas stirred controversy after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, recognizing the right to abortion. Democrats in Congress were outraged when Thomas suggested that previous Supreme Court decisions upholding rights to contraception, same-sex intimacy, and gay marriage should be reexamined in future cases. Despite his quiet demeanor during Supreme Court proceedings, Thomas is known for not shying away from contentious issues. He is among the most vocal opponents of affirmative action in college admissions and hiring practices, which has angered civil rights activists.
 

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However, perhaps no event has defined Thomas's tenure more than his 1991 Senate confirmation hearings. The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by then-Democratic Senator Joe Biden, heard testimony from Anita Hill, a Black law school professor who had previously worked for Thomas at the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, who accused him of workplace sexual harassment. The proceedings were televised nationally, and the all-white Judiciary Committee intensely questioned Hill. Thomas fought back, describing the hearings as a "circus" and "a national disgrace" and characterizing himself as the victim of "a high-tech lynching for uppity Blacks." Despite the controversy, the Senate confirmed Thomas in a close vote of 52-48.
 
After 32 years on the bench and approaching the record for longevity set by former Justice William Douglas, Thomas is at the center of multiple controversies. He has been urged to recuse himself from any potential cases related to former President Donald Trump's activities leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters attempting to halt the certification of President Biden's electoral victory. In January 2022, Thomas dissented when the Supreme Court denied Trump's request to block the release of White House records related to the attack. In September 2022, Thomas's wife, conservative activist Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, met with the congressional committee investigating the attack and reportedly reiterated her belief that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Ginni Thomas has previously denied any conflict of interest between her activism and her husband's position as a judge.