In an unexpected revelation from the year 2000, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, facing financial challenges, hinted at the possibility of resigning during a conversation with a Republican lawmaker. At the time, Thomas, grappling with mounting debt and new familial responsibilities, advocated for a pay raise for Supreme Court justices, warning that without it, resignations could be imminent.
Thomas, who had recently taken in his young grandnephew, found himself in a precarious financial position despite his $173,600 salary, equivalent to over $300,000 today. Seeking advice on handling new expenses, Thomas had borrowed $267,000 to purchase a luxury RV. His frustration with the financial strain led him to advocate for lifting the ban on justices receiving paid speaking fees.
Despite his efforts, Congress did not provide the desired pay raise or lift the ban on speaking fees. However, in the subsequent years, Thomas experienced an unprecedented influx of gifts from affluent friends, notably Dallas real estate billionaire Harlan Crow. These gifts ranged from covering living expenses to international vacations on Crow’s private jet and superyacht.
The motivations behind the generosity bestowed upon Thomas by his wealthy benefactors remain unclear. Some believe it was an effort to enhance the justice’s comfort rather than influence his views. Yale Law School professor George Priest, who has vacationed with Thomas and Crow, suggests that Crow saw Thomas as having a limited salary and provided benefits to ease his financial burden.
Despite the numerous gifts, there is no evidence that Thomas explicitly discussed resigning with his benefactors. The nature of these relationships raises questions about the intersection of personal financial struggles and the impartiality expected from Supreme Court justices.
Thomas, who did not come from a wealthy background, faced financial challenges even after his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1991. Student loans from law school and regular borrowing characterized the early years of his tenure. In 2000, Thomas took a trip to a Georgia beach resort, where he delivered a keynote speech at a conservative conference, and conversations about his financial concerns started circulating in Washington.
The public, however, remained largely unaware of these discussions. Thomas’ push for a pay raise and the removal of the ban on speaking fees were met with resistance, but by the early 2000s, his financial situation began to improve. A $1.5 million advance for his memoir in 2003 and gifts from wealthy friends contributed to a more comfortable financial position.
By 2019, the justices’ pay had not kept pace with inflation, but Thomas appeared to have shifted his perspective. During a public appearance, he stated that he believed the justices’ salary was sufficient, indicating that he and his wife were doing fine without living extravagantly.
Despite this assertion, Thomas continued to enjoy the generosity of his wealthy friends. In 2019, he embarked on a vacation to Indonesia on Crow’s private jet, highlighting the enduring relationship between the justice and his affluent benefactors.
The journey of Justice Clarence Thomas from financial strain to opulence sheds light on the complexities surrounding the financial well-being of Supreme Court justices and the potential impact on their impartiality. The episode also raises broader questions about the compensation and financial stability of individuals serving in key positions within the federal government.
