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Clarence Thomas Conservatism

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Justice Clarence Thomas was nominated to be on the Supreme Court in 1991 and was described by Halliburton as “an honor that was to carry Clarence Thomas to the height of fame and to the brink of disaster” (13). As it pertains to his position on the court and how he functions in various cases he can be described by many words: conservative, originalist, even a textualist. These characteristics have influenced the interpretation of laws and the Constitution since the nineties unto today.
The Fourth Amendment states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”("The Constitution of the United States," Amendment 4). As a Supreme Court …show more content…

This notion oftentimes can enable yet inhibit the system simultaneously, but nonetheless his ideologies have fallen on the side of conservatism. Halliburton noted in his book about Thomas’ life that “the fact that he is a conservative African American makes Thomas different and strangely alone” (88) and “is also the most closely watched” (88). Halliburton’s statements may or may not be true but the fact remains the same that his decisions and opinions on court cases are expected to be a reflection of his party affiliation especially when it comes to the interpretation of the constitution, particularly in this case the fourth amendment. Because of this Thomas must weigh party ideas with his own interpretation of the constitution which at points in his career caused opposition from other politicians mainly in instances when his interpretation seemed extreme and/or

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