Lillian McEwen is a retired judge, former lawyer, prosecutor, and author. She is also a former ex-girlfriend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, a controversial and conservative figure in the highest court in the US.
McEwen gained notable recognition in 2010 after speaking publicly about her relationship with Justice Clarence Thomas in the 1980s. She spoke about it after Thomas’ wife called Anita Hall asking her to apologize for accusing Thomas of sexual harassment during his confirmation hearings in 1991.
McEwen also published a memoir, “DC Unmasked & Undressed,” about her personal and professional experiences, including her relationship with Thomas.
Lillian McEwen Education
Lillian McEwen pursued a higher education in law, which laid the foundation for her career as a lawyer and prosecutor.
Specific details about her education are not publicly available, but we do know that she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Law at the Catholic University of America in DC.
She also furthered her education culminating in the attainment of a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Howard University School of Law.
Lillian McEwen’s Legal Career
Lillian McEwen, who was born and raised in Washington DC, had a distinguished career in law and public service.
She retired as a federal judge. Before that, she had served as a prosecutor, criminal defense lawyer, law professor, and legal counsel in Capitol Hill.
Here is an overview of her career:
- Assistant United States Attorney: McEwen served as an assistant United States attorney in Washington DC from 1975. As an AUSA, she prosecuted criminal cases and gained valuable experience in law and how the justice system works.
- Legal Counsel to the US Senate Judiciary Committee: After working as an AUSA, McEwen worked in Capitol Hill as a legal counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, from 1979 to 1982. During that time, she worked with President Joe Biden, then a senator, on racketeering and criminal forfeiture legislation.
- Private Practice: McEwen went into private practice as a criminal defense lawyer from 1983 to 1989, and again from 1993 to 1994.
- Law Professor: Between 1989 and 1992, McEwen worked at the District of Columbia School of Law as an Assistant Professor of Law.
- Administrative Law Judge: In July 1994, McEwen left private practice for public service. She served as an administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration, Fresno, CA, until March 1995 before she was promoted to Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge in New Haven, CT. She was then appointed as an administrative law judge for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in September 1995. She remained at the SEC until she retired in January 2007.
McEwen’s Exposes Relationship with Clarence Thomas
In 2010, McEwen went public about her relationship with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the late 70s to early 80s.
She went public with the relationship after Virginia Thimas, the wife of the Supreme Court Justice, requested an apology from Anita Hall for accusing her husband of sexual harassment during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 1991.
Speaking to the Washington Post, McEwen accused Thomas of sexual harassment, saying that he was “always actively watching the women he worked with to see if they could be potential partners.”
In another interview with ABC News, McEwen said that Thomas “was obsessed with pornography,” and that it “was something he talked about quite frequently.”
McEwen’s comments were similar to Hill’s accusations of sexual harassment in 1991. Hill said that Thomas “talked about pornographic materials,” and that Thomas “graphically” described “his own sexual prowess” on several occasions.
Hill and Thomas worked together at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Asked why she did not come forward during Thomas’ confirmation hearings in 1991, McEwen said that she was on good terms with him and that the Joe Biden-run confirmation hearing panel only called witnesses that had a “professional relationship” with Thomas.
McEwen’s Memoir
After retiring in 2007, McEwen started working on her memoir, “D.C. Unmasked & Undressed,” which is about her professional and personal experiences working in the nation’s capital.
The book provides a unique perspective on the political and social landscape of DC.
Through vivid storytelling and clever observations, McEwen delves into the complexities of race, gender, and privilege.
Ultimately, the memoir provides readers with a compelling narrative that challenges conventional perceptions and inspires critical reflection on the intersections of law, politics, and personal relationships.
The book also shares intimate details about her relationship with Thomas, which lasted over five years.
