Clarence Thomas Hits 2nd-Longest Supreme Court Tenure

Justice Clarence Thomas marked a significant milestone on Thursday by becoming the second-longest serving justice in U.S. Supreme Court history after more than 34 years on the bench. The 77-year-old associate justice now trails only William O. Douglas, who served for 36 years and 209 days from 1939 to 1975. Thomas would surpass Douglas in 2028 if he continues his tenure.

Appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 to replace Thurgood Marshall, Thomas became the second Black justice on the court. His confirmation followed highly publicized Senate hearings, during which he faced sexual harassment allegations from former colleague Anita Hill. Thomas denied the claims and described the process as a "high-tech lynching for uppity blacks." The Senate confirmed him by a 52-48 vote.

Raised in Pin Point, Georgia, and later segregated Savannah by his grandfather, Thomas attended Conception Seminary College, graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and earned a law degree from Yale Law School. Early in his tenure, he was often an outlier, known for lengthy silences during oral arguments and solo dissents.

The court's composition shifted after President Donald Trump appointed...