The legacy of Clarence Thomas will be declining trust in the Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is a singular figure in U.S. history. If he remains on the bench for the next two years, he will be the longest-serving justice in American history.

But his singular place in history is now tragic.

First, he is at the heart of a historic decline in public trust in the Supreme Court. Second, as the most powerful Black Republican in national politics, he has damaged trust in Black conservatives as a source of innovative thinking for dealing with racial problems.

Thomas’s singular status in history is being confirmed thanks to a biography written by right-wing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The fawning tract celebrates Thomas as a rightwing hero. It was recently the number one book on the New York Times bestseller list.

Thomas is also in the news as one of only two justices to vote in support of President Trump’s gambit to skew the midterms in Republicans’ favor by restricting mail-in voting.

And he will go into history books as the Black justice who voted to weaken the Voting Rights Act, opening the door to eliminating Black-majority districts this year as part of a GOP effort to hold the House.

History will also note that several Democrats running in the midterms appear focused on Thomas as they propose ethics codes, term limits and even adding more seats to the court to restore ideological balance.

That political push began after investigative reports showed Thomas accepted, without disclosure, luxury vacations, help with tuition for a relative and real estate funding for his mother from a wealthy Republican.

That legacy is at the heart of declining trust in the Supreme Court.

Thomas’s damaged political profile is also evident in his decision to........

© The Hill