In this photo, U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Clarence Thomas is shown during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, 1991. Thomas denies the charges of sexual harassment brought against him. His wife, Virginia, sits behind him.
On the Healthcare law upheld yesterday, the ruling handed Obama a campaign-season victory in rejecting arguments that Congress went too far in approving the plan. However, Republicans quickly indicated they will try to use the decision to rally their supporters against what they call "Obamacare," arguing that the ruling characterized the penalty against people who refuse to get insurance as a tax.
In that 5-4 decision Thursday upholding Obama's Health Care Programs for the country, Chief Justice John Roberts sided with liberals to uphold the insurance mandate while Justice Clarence Thomas dissented. The question here now is, what would be Thomas' legacy as Associate Justice of SCOTUS by way of succeeding Thurgood Marshall? What were his decisions that favored the ideals replacing Marshall?
From sources according to Wikipedia, Thomas grew up in Savannah, Georgia and was educated at the College of the Holy Cross and at Yale Law School. In 1974, he was appointed an Assistant Attorney General in Missouri and subsequently practiced law there in the private sector. In 1979, he became a legislative assistant to Missouri United States Senator John Danforth and in 1981 was appointed Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Thomas Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); he served in that position until 1990, when President George H. W. Bush nominated him for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
On July 1, 1991, after 16 months of service as a judge, Thomas was nominated by Bush to fill Marshall's seat on the United States Supreme Court. Thomas's confirmation hearings were bitter and intensely fought, centering on an accusation that he had made unwelcome sexual comments to attorney Anita Hill, a subordinate at the Department of Education and subsequently at the EEOC. The U.S. Senate ultimately confirmed Thomas by a vote of 52–48.
Since joining the Court, Thomas has taken a textualist approach, seeking to uphold what he sees as the original meaning of the United States Constitution and statutes. He is generally viewed as among the most conservative members of the Court. Thomas has often approached federalism issues in a way that limits the power of the federal government and expands power of state and local governments. At the same time, Thomas's opinions have generally supported a strong executive branch within the federal government.
