Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated by President George H. W. Bush in 1991 and succeeded Thurgood Marshall. Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court; he is the longest-serving among its current members, with a tenure of 7003997900000000000♠9,979 days (7003997900000000000♠27 years, 117 days) as of February 17, 2019.