Following a contentious affirmation listening to, the Senate voted 52 to 48 to verify Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on this present day in historical past, Oct. 15, 1991.
In July 1991, Thurgood Marshall, the primary African American to sit down on the Supreme Courtroom, introduced his retirement after 34 years, Historical past.com cited.
Subsequently, President George H. W. Bush, the forty first president of america, nominated Thomas, who at the moment was a 43-year-old African American choose recognized for his conservative beliefs, to fill Justice Marshall’s seat, the identical supply indicated.
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Thomas had served as chair of the Equal Employment Alternative Fee throughout President Ronald Reagan’s administration; in 1990 President Bush appointed him to the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals, a number of sources acknowledged.
Because the affirmation hearings for Thomas’ Supreme Courtroom nomination started, he evaded controversy over his conservative views on subjects akin to abortion by refusing to state a transparent political place, in response to Historical past.com.
Supreme Courtroom Justice Clarence Thomas speaks on the Heritage Basis on Oct. 21, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Photos)
Many believed he could be confirmed to the Supreme Courtroom shortly — till Anita Hill, a former aide, who had turn out to be a professor of regulation on the College of Oklahoma, accused him of sexual harassment.
Hill’s allegations, made public on Oct. 5, 1991, completely modified the character and tenor of the nomination, in response to Congressional Quarterly.
Inside days, the Senate’s judicial screening course of was beneath assault and Thomas’ profession and status have been thrown into doubt, the identical supply recounted.
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Starting on Oct. 11, 1991, the Senate Judiciary Committee held 4 days of publicly televised hearings on Hill’s prices.
Individuals have been shocked by each the frankness of Hill’s testimony and the unsympathetic response of the all-male committee, a few of whom have been brazenly antagonistic towards Hill, in response to Historical past.com.
Supreme Courtroom Justice Clarence Thomas sits along with his spouse and conservative activist Virginia Thomas whereas he waits to talk on the Heritage Basis on Oct. 21, 2021. Thomas has now served on the Supreme Courtroom for greater than 30 years. (Drew Angerer/Getty Photos)
Throughout her hours of testimony, Hill recounted tales of how Thomas had humiliated her with lewd feedback and undesirable advances, in response to Congressional Quarterly.
“My efforts to vary the topic have been hardly ever profitable,” Hill testified at the moment.
Thomas denied the costs, in response to a number of sources.
“That was the closest vote in favor of a Supreme Courtroom nominee in additional than a century.”
Following the committee’s hearings, the Senate vote was 52–48.
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Eleven Democrats and 41 Republicans supported Thomas and 46 Democrats and two Republicans opposing him, in response to Congressional Quarterly.
“That was the closest vote in favor of a Supreme Courtroom nominee in additional than a century,” the identical supply stated.
Justice Clarence Thomas listens throughout a ceremony on the South Garden of the White Home on Oct. 26, 2020. (Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)
Justice Thomas was born within the Pinpoint neighborhood close to Savannah, Georgia, on June 23, 1948.
He graduated from the Faculty of the Holy Cross in 1971 and from Yale Regulation College in 1974, in response to the Supreme Courtroom Historic Society.
Thomas is the longest-serving present justice.
From 1981 to 1982, he served as assistant secretary for civil rights, U.S. Division of Training, and as chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Alternative Fee from 1982 to 1990.
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From 1990 to 1991, he served as a choose on the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in response to the official website of the Supreme Courtroom of america.
Justice Thomas took his seat on the Supreme Courtroom on Oct. 23, 1991, the place he presently serves.
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Thomas is the longest-serving present justice.
He’s additionally the one present justice who took his seat earlier than 2000, in response to a number of sources.
