---
title: "Clarence Thomas | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/clarence-thomas"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Clarence Thomas

Supreme Court of the United States · Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of the United States
- State: National federal courts
- Role: Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-29

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Supreme Court of the United States, 1991-present
- Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1990-1991
- In 1981, he was appointed Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education and, in 1982, became Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), serving until 1990
- Assistant attorney general, Jefferson City, MO, 1974-1977
- Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

### Education

- Yale University — J.D. (1974)
- Yale Law School in — J.D. (1974)
- College of the Holy Cross — B.A. (1971)
- Saint Louis University School of Law

### Additional information

- John C. Danforth, MO, 1979-1981
- Attorney, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO, 1977-1979
- Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and experiences of racism, he left the seminary and enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 1971 with a degree in English Literature.
- Clarence Thomas was born on June 23, 1948, in Pin Point, Georgia, a small Gullah community near Savannah, and was raised by his maternal grandfather after his father abandoned the family.
- Date of birth: 1948-06-23
- Legislative assistant, U.S. Sen.
- St. Pius X Catholic High School
- He attended segregated Catholic schools and later St. John Vianney Minor Seminary, initially aspiring to become a priest.
- After law school, Thomas held a position as an assistant attorney general in Missouri, then as a corporate lawyer for Monsanto, and later as a legislative assistant to Senator John Danforth.
- His tenure at the EEOC was marked by conservative approaches to civil rights and opposition to affirmative action policies.
- Conception Abbey
- Thomas is married to Virginia Lamp Thomas and has one son from a previous marriage.
- He is a devout Roman Catholic and attributes much of his discipline and values to his grandfather, who played a central role in his upbringing.
- His early life experiences with poverty, segregation, and racism have shaped his worldview and judicial philosophy.
- Birth place: Savannah, GA

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### courtroom address

Scope: courtwide

Wait at the lectern until recognized, open with the court's prescribed salutation, do not introduce counsel, address the Chief Justice with the specified title, and address other Justices as Justice [name] or Your Honor, not Judge.

Evidence excerpt: Others are referred to as "Justice Thomas," "Justice Kagan," or "Your Honor." Do not use the title "Judge."

[Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### argument time

Scope: courtwide

Argument is normally scheduled for 30 minutes, but counsel need not use all allotted time.

Evidence excerpt: Your argument time is normally scheduled for 30 minutes (Rule 28.3). You need not use all your time.

[Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### time signal

Scope: courtwide

When the red light comes on, finish answering the pending question but do not present a summation.

Evidence excerpt: When the red light comes on, counsel may finish responding to a question that is pending, but should not present a summation.

[Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### prepared script

Scope: courtwide

Speak clearly into the microphone, do not read from a prepared script, and do not use rapid-fire delivery to stretch argument time.

Evidence excerpt: Under no circumstances should you read your argument from a prepared script. You should not attempt to enhance your argument time by a rapid fire delivery.

[Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### justice questions

Scope: courtwide

Never interrupt a Justice. If interrupted, stop speaking immediately, listen, and give that Justice full attention.

Evidence excerpt: Never interrupt a Justice who is addressing you. Give your full time and attention to that Justice.

[Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### direct answers

Scope: courtwide

Answer questions directly, use yes or no when possible before explaining, and say so if you do not know the answer.

Evidence excerpt: Make every effort to answer questions directly. If at all possible, say "yes" or "no," and then expand upon your answer if you wish. If you do not know the answer, say so.

[Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx)
- [Official roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx)
- [Supreme Court of the United States current members](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3200/clarence-thomas/)
- [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf)
- [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx)
- [Wikidata: Clarence Thomas](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11142)
- [Federal Judicial Center: D.C. Circuit judicial service](https://www.fjc.gov/history/courts/u.s.-court-appeals-district-columbia-circuit-justices-and-judges)
- [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx)
- [Wikidata: Clarence Thomas](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11142)

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