Clarence Thomas: The Tea Party Justice
John Yoo ·
Oct 27, 2011 at 10:54am
Last Sunday was Justice Clarence Thomas's 20th anniversary on the Supreme Court. It was my great honor to clerk for him in 1994. The Wall Street Journal kindly published my speculations on the meaning of his two decades on the Court.
But in thinking about it a little more, I wonder whether I should have titled the piece: "Clarence Thomas: The Tea Party Justice." What strikes me is how much of the constitutional idealism of the Tea Party movement tracks opinions that Justice Thomas first wrote 5, 10, or even 15 years ago: the demand to return the federal government to its limits before the New Deal being foremost.
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Dec '10
Re: Clarence Thomas: The Tea Party Justice
Yup.
In addition, his life story is that of an up-by-his-bootstraps adventure. And his conversion from affirmative action, that coincided with his conversion from liberalism, is Tea Party Central.
Many, if not most, conservatives were once liberals.
Oct '10
Re: Clarence Thomas: The Tea Party Justice
I have developed a deeper admiration of Justice Thomas through the Law Talk podcasts. Thank you, John!
Well written article, by the way.
Edited on Oct 27, 2011 at 8:40pmJun '10
Re: Clarence Thomas: The Tea Party Justice
Thomas will have a greater influence on America than Marshall had. He's suited well for this position in the SC.
I look forward to the day when the education canon includes his book, My Grandfather's Son."