Zach Englund
Sports Editor
Every so often, Pepperdine has the privilege of hosting some of today’s most prominent figures. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas captivated the hearts and minds of a standing-room-only audience in the 2nd Annual William French Smith Memorial Lecture, held in the Henry J. and Gloria Caruso Auditorium at Pepperdine’s School of Law on Friday.
The panel consisted of Kenneth Starr, dean of the School of Law, Charles Ekridge partner with the commercial litigation law firm of Susman Godfrey LLP, and Shelly Saxor, associate dean for academics. They asked Thomas questions ranging from his childhood upbringing to his role as an associate justice.
“As a democrat, I appreciate that Dean Starr brought me on the panel, and I can say that it was a life-changing opportunity for me,” Saxor said.
Having recently written a book about his childhood called, “My Grandfather’s Son,” Thomas also spoke extensively about the role his grandfather played in raising him and his brother.
“There wasn’t a father, biologically,” he said. “And, the person who fulfilled that role would come into my life when I was seven, and my brother was soon-to-be six. In every way that you think of a father — what he gives you, what he requires of you — my grandfather provided those things when we got to live with him.”
As an African American coming from a poor background and a racist society in Pin Point, Ga., Thomas, 60, had to overcome many challenges. However, through his family and his faith in God, Thomas said he conquered all obstacles.
“As [the apostle] Paul said, ‘We’re at our strongest when you’re at your weakest,’” he said. “And, it just seems to me that the moments in our lives when the last thing you have in life is your faith, when the whole world is against you, where else do you go? And that’s where we went; we went to God.”
During the panel, Thomas had the majority of the audience leaning out of their seats, anticipating his answers to the questions. Blake Edwards, a first-year law student, said he was surprised at how captivating a speaker Thomas was.
“I was under the impression that the justices had to be the nine most boring people out there,” he said. “But, his personality was awesome, and they were really just having a conversation.”
Thomas also let it be known how passionate he was about his profession and abiding by the Constitution. Knowing that justices in the past have abused their power and authority, Thomas repeated numerous times that he has never overstepped his boundaries and responsibilities as associate justice.
“We took an oath not to go beyond that role,” Thomas said, referring to he and his clerks. “And, I look them in the eye much the same way my grandfather would look at my brother and I. Has there even been one time that we shied away from doing our jobs, was there one time that we did anything improper? I can sit here and say to you that, in my term, we have never gone beyond our role, and we have never shied from the duties that are required of us in the Constitution.”
Going into his 18th year as associate justice, Thomas said he has experienced a lot in his tenure. When asked by Saxor how he has changed and what he has learned since he was sworn in, Thomas did not hesitate with his reply.
“I have less hair now,” he said. “Having been here 17 terms and being 60 and not 42, I have a more informed view and deeper understanding of the importance of living out that oath. I know the importance of that great document that is so small, the importance of preserving the liberties that we have in this country and the importance of making sure that the citizens understand what we do and how great a document it is.”
After the lecture came to a close, Thomas stuck around for the reception to meet all those who wished to speak with him. He took his time with each individual, giving genuine interest and attention to all those who stopped to meet him.
“One of the charming facets of Clarence Thomas is how genuinely touched he is by those who want to meet him and know him,” President Andrew K. Benton wrote in an email. “He is a warm and engaging speaker, and his humility, compared with his accomplishments, is remarkable.”
Submitted 09-11-2008