2021 Tocqueville Lecture
2021 Tocqueville Lecture
Justice Clarence Thomas
Our 2021 Tocqueville Lecture featuring Justice Clarence Thomas is part of the Center's Napa Institute Forum at the University of Notre Dame. Our inaugural Tocqueville Lecture in 2016 was delivered by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Our second Tocqueville Lecture in 2018 was delivered by Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.
3:30 pm - Public Lecture
Leighton Concert Hall at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at the University of Notre Dame
Free and open to the public. Masks are required in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center for all attendees.
No backpacks, briefcases, or the equivalent will be allowed in the building.
Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was born in the Pinpoint community near Savannah, Georgia on June 23, 1948. He attended Conception Seminary from 1967-1968 and received an A.B., cum laude, from College of the Holy Cross in 1971 and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1974. He was admitted to law practice in Missouri in 1974, and served as an Assistant Attorney General of Missouri, 1974-1977; an attorney with the Monsanto Company, 1977-1979; and Legislative Assistant to Senator John Danforth, 1979-1981. From 1981–1982 he served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, and as Chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1982-1990. From 1990–1991, he served as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. President Bush nominated him as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and he took his seat October 23, 1991. He married Virginia Lamp on May 30, 1987 and has one child, Jamal Adeen by a previous marriage.
Private Dinner
We will honor Justice Thomas at our 2021 Tocqueville Dinner, which will feature Trinitas Wines. Business attire requested.
5:30 pm - Reception
6:00 pm - Dinner and Evening Program
Concourse C located at Notre Dame Stadium
Parking & Directions
Visitor Parking
Parking is available in visitor lots on campus (marked gray on map). Bookstore lot (1-hr timed parking) or Walsh visitor lot are nearest to lecture venue. Stadium and/or Joyce lot may be open and available after business hours, and are close to Notre Dame Stadium.
Walking Directions from Lecture to Dinner
Upon exiting DeBartolo Performing Arts Center through the main doors facing north, turn right and follow sidewalks along Holy Cross Drive, walking east. Turn left / head north at the stop sign / Eddy Street and continue on sidewalks toward Notre Dame Stadium.
The event entrance will be marked at Concourse C.
University COVID protocols
Visitors are welcome on campus, subject to any public health protocols in effect at the time of the visit.
Visitors who are not vaccinated are expected to wear masks while on campus.
Please reach out to our team with any questions cccg@nd.edu.
