CLARENCE THOMAS

A sympathetic, but sloppily written, biography that effectively presents Thomas's background, experiences, and challenges on the Supreme Court. Depicting Thomas's adroit use of his Catholic school connections, Halliburton shows how he progressed rapidly through college and law school on minority student scholarships; he attributes the justice's later beliefs to his difficulty convincing whites that his honors were based on merit, and to his problems with not being taken seriously as a corporate lawyer. Thomas's experiences in opposing the group- oriented goals of civil-rights organizations apparently hardened his positions, even as white conservatives cheered him on. Mentioning, without describing, Anita Hill's testimony, the author portrays Thomas's confirmation hearings as positive until Hill actually appeared. Presenting his subject's personal philosophy, Halliburton brings up some incongruities (like calling himself ``guilty'' of opposing apartheid). But no sources are given for quotations or specific facts (in particular, where did Halliburton get the thoughts he attributes to people?), while the bibliography lists little biographical information on Thomas. Flawed, but usable. B&w photos; chronology; index. (Biography. 12-15)