washington vice president-elect mike pence swear office jan. 20 u.s. supreme court justice clarence thomas conservative legal icon revile many liberals thomas role include official program republican president-elect donald trump inauguration post online joint congressional committee inaugural ceremonies trump swear conservative chief justice john roberts nation chief justice usually swear president incoming vice president traditionally pick someone else administer oath office vice president joe biden swear liberal justice john paul stevens 2009 liberal justice sonia sotomayor 2013. thomas 68 second black justice serve supreme court one conservative members nominate republican president george h.w bush thomas join court 1991 contentious senate confirmation hear involve sexual harassment allegations make former federal government colleague anita hill october controversy erupt allegations trump fondle numerous women boast female corporate lawyer alaska accuse thomas grope 1999 charge thomas call preposterous untrue take office trump nominate justice serve alongside thomas supreme court fill vacancy create death another conservative justice antonin scalia february 2016. republicans control u.s. senate decline act president barack obama nominee fill position merrick garland u.s. vp-elect pence swear conservative justice thomas