Religion in the Public Service: A Conversation with Justice Clarence Thomas ’74 and Ambassador John Danforth ’63

Speakers
Clarence Thomas ’74 J.D.
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

John C. Danforth ’63 LL.B.; B.Div.
Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Former United States Senator from Missouri
Former Attorney General of Missouri

Moderator
Guido Calabresi ’58 LL.B.
Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Sterling Professor Emeritus of Law and Former Dean, Yale Law School

4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Levinson Auditorium, Yale Law School

Justice Clarence Thomas was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush, and, after serving for 16 months, was nominated to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He took his seat in October 1991. John C. Danforth was Attorney General of Missouri from 1969 to 1976, when he went on to serve as a U.S. Senator until 1995. He was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2004 to 2005. Danforth is also an ordained Episcopal minister. Thomas worked for Danforth when the latter was Attorney General. He also served as a legislative assistant to Senator Danforth from 1980 to 1981. Guido Calabresi was appointed United States Circuit Judge in 1994. Prior to his appointment, he was Dean and Sterling Professor at Yale Law School, where he began teaching in 1959.

Our speakers will discuss their personal faith journeys and the ways in which religion does and does not influence them as public figures. They will also reflect broadly on the proper role of religion in public life.

UPDATE:
Watch a video of the conversation.