“had scrimped and saved to afford the motor coach”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas is an American lawyer and jurist who has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1991. Nominated by President George H. W. Bush to succeed Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and the second longest-serving U.S. Supreme Court justice in history.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
politics · US Supreme Court justice since 1991 · judge · lawyer · politician · jurist · also Clarence Thomas, Thomas
Born 23 June 1948 · Q11142
88 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
14 photos · 1 audio
Listen
Clarence Thomas delivers the opinion of the Court in Jones v. Hendrix
Supreme Court of the United States of America · Public domain
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 13 entries
“he saved up all his money to buy it”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“s books Native Son and Black Boy”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“if our history has taught us anything, it has taught us to beware of elites bearing racial theories”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“It is a mistake for judges to assume the responsibility for deciding which school rules are important enough to allow for invasive searches and which rules are not”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“presents the question whether, independent of these core concerns, the Speedy Trial Clause protects an accused from two additional harms: (1) prejudice to his ability to defend himself caused by the passage of time; and (2) disruption of his life years after the alleged commission of his crime”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“a use of force that causes only insignificant harm to a prisoner may be immoral, it may be tortious, it may be criminal, and it may even be remediable under other provisions of the Federal Constitution, but it is not”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“understanding of executive power [that] prevailed in America”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Sports Illustrated: Alek Thomas Gets First Chance With Dodgers Since Diamondbacks Trade
- #news
- #headline
BizPac Review: ‘National Treasure!’ Justice Clarence Thomas chokes up sharing personal memory
- #news
- #headline
Public attention spiked: 6,799 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.8× the usual 1,782, with 0 article edits.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
Public attention spiked: 31,180 Wikipedia readers in one day, 17.5× the usual 1,782, with 6 article edits. Editors noted: there is a standing consensus to exclude this from Thomas and other justices with the exception of Kavanaugh
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
The Guardian: I thought Alito was history’s worst supreme court justice. But Thomas has outdone him | Robert Reich
- #news
- #headline
2025· 5 entries
Snopes.com rated the claim “In November 2025, the U.S. Navy struck a yacht carrying U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.” Labeled Satire.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
The Guardian: Clarence Thomas says precedent might not determine cases on upcoming supreme court docket
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: New book shows supreme court justice Clarence Thomas once supported press freedom
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Clarence Thomas calls out federal court for ignoring precedent despite his doing same with Roe
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: US judicial body rejects request to refer Clarence Thomas to justice department
- #news
- #headline
2024· 6 entries
The Guardian: New ethics inquiry details more trips by Clarence Thomas paid for by wealthy benefactors
- #news
- #headline
Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee released a report revealing that Thomas had taken an additional two trips in 2021 paid for by Crow
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
USA Today rated the claim “Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas announced plans to retire in January” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
During a segment on his show Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver offered Thomas US$1 (equivalent to $1
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
WUSA9 rated the claim “Justice Clarence Thomas was required to recuse himself from Trump case” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Thomas was the sole dissenter in United States v
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2023· 3 entries
Both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Finance Committee opened investigations into Thomas's undisclosed gifts
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
The New York Times reported that a friend had paid for Thomas's Prevost Le Mirage XL Marathon RV, purchased for $267,230 in 1999 (roughly equivalent to $516,000 in 2025)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
In response to Thomas's nondisclosures, Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats called on Chief Justice Roberts to open an investigation into Thomas's conduct
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2022· 7 entries
Snopes rated the claim “Rosa Parks said of the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas in 1991: "His confirmation to the highest court in the land would not represent a step forward in the road to racial progress but a U-turn on that road ... His statements on Brown v. Board of Education case and even on the Roe v. …” Correct Attribution.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Lead Stories rated the claim “Justice Clarence Thomas did cite QAnon propaganda about COVID vaccines having "aborted fetus cells" in a decision by the Supreme Court to not take up a legal challenge by New York health care workers who opposed the state's vaccine mandate on religious gr” No Q There.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Snopes rated the claim “Videos on TikTok revealed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' credit card number.” Unproven (retired).
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
USA Today rated the claim “Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife posed with wine after Roe v. Wade leak” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
PolitiFact rated the claim ““Clarence Thomas is about to become the only member of the current Supreme Court who was nominated by a president of one party and confirmed by a Senate controlled by the other party.”” Mostly True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
“any substantive due process decision is”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Thomas authored the majority opinion in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2021· 4 entries
USA Today rated the claim “Clarence Thomas found that social media companies do not have a First Amendment right to ban protected speech and Section 230 is unconstitutional” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Lead Stories rated the claim “Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Ginni, paid for buses to take protestors to Washington, D.C., for the Jan. 6, 20201 Capitol protest” No Money Trail.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Snopes rated the claim “Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, sponsored 80 buses to transport participants to the "Save America" rally on Jan. 6, 2021.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
As of 2021, Thomas is one of 14 practicing Catholic justices in the Court's history and one of six currently serving (along with Alito, Kavanaugh, Roberts, Sotomayor, and Barrett).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #religion
2020· 3 entries
USA Today rated the claim “Joe Biden tried to destroy the life and reputation of Clarence Thomas, who is in control of the Supreme Court, which will most likely decide the election.” Partly False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Belmont Abbey College awarded him the Benedict Leadership Award for his devotion to the Catholic faith and government service
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
In response, 24 Democratic members of the House of Representatives and the Senate demanded that Thomas recuse himself from cases related to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 attack at the U.S.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #family
2019· 1 entry
The New York Times reported that data gathered by political scientist Stephen L
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2016· 2 entries
Moira Smith, vice-president and general counsel of a natural gas distributor in Alaska, said that Thomas groped her buttocks at a dinner party in 1999
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Thomas wrote nearly twice as many opinions as any other justice
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2013· 2 entries
“unnecessary in deciding cases to ask that many questions ... we should listen to lawyers who are arguing their cases, and I think we should allow the advocates to advocate.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Thomas said it was "unnecessary in deciding cases to ask that many questions
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2012· 2 entries
Thomas received an honorary degree from the College of the Holy Cross, his alma mater
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
The Judicial Education Project filed a brief to the Supreme Court in a landmark voting rights case
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2011· 3 entries
Politico reported that Crow gave $500,000 to a Tea Party group founded by Thomas's wife and that Thomas had failed to report her income on his disclosure for more than a decade
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Stepped down from Liberty Central to open a conservative lobbying firm, calling herself an "ambassador to the Tea Party"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
74 Democratic members of the House of Representatives wrote that Justice Thomas should recuse himself on cases regarding the Affordable Care Act because of "appearance of a conflict of interest" based on his wife's work
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2010· 2 entries
And domestic trips in 2017, 2019, and 2021
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
“more than 250 concurring or dissenting opinions seriously questioning precedents, calling for their reconsideration or suggesting that they be overruled”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
2006· 1 entry
For another 25 years, but Thomas said the law was no longer necessary, stating that the rate of black voting in seven Section Five states was higher than the national average
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2004· 2 entries
Thomas had accepted gifts worth $4
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
The Los Angeles Times reported that Thomas had accepted gifts from Harlan Crow, a wealthy Dallas-based real estate investor and prominent Republican donor, including a Bible that once belonged to abolitionist Frederick D
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2001· 2 entries
Awarded Francis Boyer Award (2001).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Thomas was awarded the Francis Boyer Award presented by the American Enterprise Institute
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1999· 2 entries
Thomas delivered the Dwight D
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Since 1999, Thomas and his wife have traveled across the U.S. in a motorcoach between Court terms.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #family
1997· 1 entry
Took in Thomas's six-year-old great-nephew, Mark Martin Jr
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1995· 1 entry
Thomas concurred in United States v
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1992· 1 entry
Awarded Horatio Alger Award (1992).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1991· 6 entries
The Senate voted to confirm Thomas as an associate justice, 52–48
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
To give the nomination a favorable recommendation failed 7–7, and the Judiciary Committee voted 13–1 to send it to the full Senate without recommendation
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Formal confirmation hearings began before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
The board of directors of the NAACP voted against endorsing Thomas, announcing their opposition to his confirmation the same day
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And Bush nominated Thomas to replace him
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1991).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1990· 2 entries
The Senate confirmed him to the Court of Appeals by a vote of 98 to 2
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (1990).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1988· 1 entry
“To define each of us by our race is nothing short of a denial of our humanity.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
1987· 1 entry
Thomas married Virginia Lamp, a lobbyist and aide to U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1981· 2 entries
President Ronald Reagan nominated Thomas as assistant secretary of education for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Thomas and his first wife separated in 1981 and divorced in 1984.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #family
1979· 1 entry
And was made Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1976· 1 entry
Thomas left to become an attorney in Monsanto's legal department in Saint Louis
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1975· 1 entry
When Thomas read economist Thomas Sowell's Race and Economics, he found an intellectual foundation for his philosophy
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1973· 1 entry
Who is Thomas's sole child
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1971· 3 entries
Thomas graduated cum laude from Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Arts, ranked ninth in his class
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And earned his Juris Doctor in 1974 from Yale Law School
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Thomas married Kathy Grace Ambush
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1968· 1 entry
In a group that also included the future attorney Ted Wells, the running back Eddie Jenkins Jr
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1967· 1 entry
Thomas, the first in his family to attend college, entered Conception Seminary College, a Benedictine seminary in Missouri, intending to become a priest
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1955· 2 entries
And experienced amenities such as indoor plumbing and regular meals for the first time
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Leola took her children to live with her in the room she rented in a tenement with an outdoor toilet in Savannah, leaving her daughter with the aunt in Pin Point
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1948· 2 entries
Born 1948-06-23.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth
In his parents' wooden shack in Pin Point, Georgia
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event