Clarence Thomas became the second-longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday, another milestone in a judicial career that has molded modern American conservatism.
By May 2026, Thomas will have served more than 34 years on the nation’s top court, beating out previous Justice Stephen J. Field, who served for decades after being nominated during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The only justice who served longer is William O. Douglas, who was on the court for more than 36 years.
Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court in 1991 by former President George H. W. Bush to replace civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall. After law professor Anita Hill accused him of sexually harassing her, which Thomas emphatically rejected, he endured one of the most contentious confirmation processes in American history.
Thomas grew from a quiet, often lonely conservative voice into one of the court’s most important individuals throughout the years. His constitutional worldview has increasingly influenced significant verdicts on gun rights, abortion, affirmative action, federal regulation and voting rules, legal scholars believe.
Thomas, now 77, has also come under scrutiny in recent years over ethics concerns over secret luxury travels and his wife, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, and her political activities. Critics have asked for stricter ethics rules for Supreme Court judges, while defenders say the justice has been consistent in his view of the Constitution.
While there has been chatter of retirement, there has been no indication Thomas is about to leave the bench. If he stays on the court until 2028, he could surpass Douglas as the longest-serving justice in American history.
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