Despite lurid charges of sexual harassment , Clarence Thomas has won confirmation by a 52 - 48 vote , the closest for a Supreme Court Justice in more than a century . The Senate vote followed a 7 - 7 deadlock in the Judiciary Committee where Thomas vehemently denied confirmation by Law Democrat Anita Hill . Eleven Democrats joined 41 Republicans to produce the slim majority . President Bush congratulated Thomas and called him " a wonderful inspiration , " but the Women 's Legal Defense Fund said," ... Wash. Byrd, W.Va.; Rockefeller, W.Va. the Senate sacrificed the integrity of the Supreme Court ... to the Bush - Reagan campaign . " As the youngest Supreme Court Justice , Thomas is expected to serve on the court for decades .
Despite lurid charges of sexual harassment , Clarence Thomas has won confirmation by a 52 - 48 vote , the closest for a Supreme Court Justice in more than a century . The Senate vote followed a 7 - 7 deadlock in the Judiciary Committee where Thomas vehemently denied confirmation by Law Democrat Anita Hill . Eleven Democrats joined 41 Republicans to produce the slim majority . President Bush congratulated Thomas and called him " a wonderful inspiration , " but the Women 's Legal Defense Fund said," ... the Senate sacrificed the integrity of the Supreme Court ... to the Bush - Reagan campaign . " As the youngest Supreme Court Justice , Thomas is expected to serve on the court for decades .