In a detailed interview with SCOTUSblog, Senator Ted Cruz elaborated on the motivations and insights behind his newly published biography on Justice Clarence Thomas, titled “Going Further.” Debuting at the top of The New York Times’ non-fiction list, the book is a product of extensive access to the Supreme Court Justice, with more than nine hours of direct interviews.
Senator Cruz, who has known Justice Thomas since his clerkship for Chief Justice William Rehnquist in 1996, delves into the justice’s commitment to constitutional originalism, emphasizing Thomas’s willingness to overturn precedent when he perceives it as wrong. This trait, Cruz argues, positions Thomas as a pivotal conservative thinker focused on ensuring a “colorblind Constitution” amid broader legal debates on race and equality.
The biography traces Thomas’s trajectory from his upbringing in the South, influenced profoundly by his grandfather Myers Anderson, to his time at Yale Law School where he felt the limits of affirmative action’s effectiveness. Cruz highlights Thomas’s resolve in excelling independently of racial identity and the challenges of entering the legal profession, which was often skeptical of credentials perceived as racially mitigated.
Cruz also sheds light on pivotal moments in Thomas’s legal career, including his dissent in the 2005 Kelo v. City of New London case, where Thomas criticized the court’s interpretation of eminent domain, advocating for a return to the Constitution’s original textual meaning. Such dissents, Cruz notes, reflect Thomas’s unwavering dedication to constitutional fidelity, impacting public and legal discourse even when in the minority opinion.
Ultimately, Cruz aims to offer a comprehensive and personal perspective on Thomas, often depicted as an isolated figure of conservative jurisprudence. By understanding the justice’s life’s journey, from civil rights advocate to a bastion of constitutional conservatism, the biography attempts to bridge personal history with judicial philosophy, offering legal professionals and scholars a nuanced view of an influential, albeit controversial, legal figure.