The legal world reeled with shock over the weekend when news broke regarding Justice Clarence Thomas’s latest law clerk appointment, Crystal Clanton. Notoriously, Clanton formerly worked at the conservative student group Turning Point USA, until allegations of racial bias led to her dismissal in 2017. The accusations circulated around Clanton’s alleged text message to coworkers stating, “I HATE BLACK PEOPLE. Like fuck them all… I hate blacks. End of story.” Reports that surfaced in 2017 document these worrisome claims.
Despite this setback, Clanton managed to secure a position with Ginni Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas. Further detailing her career trajectory, Clanton was admitted to George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, and was subsequently able to attain prestigious clerkships with Judge Corey Maze of the Northern District of Alabama and the Eleventh Circuit’s Judge William Pryor. According to reports, these employment choices elicited concern and investigation, but the Judicial Council of the Second Circuit cleared the involved judges of any misconduct.
In a striking turn of events, Clanton has now secured one of the top roles in legal academia under Justice Clarence Thomas, the second Black Supreme Court Justice in history. Her successful career trajectory, despite her widely condemned racial comments, has drawn attention and prompted numerous questions about the ethics of her various appointments. Furthermore, there is no evidence of Clanton making recompense or expressing regret for her admissions of racial bias, leading many to wonder how her views may impact her work within the justice system and further propagate structural inequalities.
Additional details about Clanton’s career and scandalous reputation can be found in earlier articles, including pieces discussing racial diversity at Antonin Scalia Law School and Ginni Thomas’s recruitment of Clanton. You can access these related pieces here,
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