European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 03, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday november 3, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 5 Thomas assumes supreme court seat ready to get to work Justice says Washington a supreme Quot .11 Quot / court Justice Clarence Thomas took the Bench with his eight colleagues for the first time Friday in a courtroom ceremony that re enacted the oath he took nine Days ago to become history a 106th Justice. _ Thomas As he did in a private ceremony oct. 23, pledged in his judicial oath to administer Justice. And do equal right to the poor and to the  chief Justice William h. Rehnquist administered the oath Friday As he had in the private ceremony. In concluding the five minute ceremony Rehnquist wished Thomas a a Long and Happy career in our common  Thomas took the seat position traditionally occupied by the courts most Junior member to the chief justices far left or the farthest right As one faces the Bench. Thomas wife and Mother looked on from their front Row seats along with Thomas primary Senate Backer Republican John Danforth of Missouri. Sen. Orrin Hatch a Utah White House counsel c. Boyden Gray and three of the High courts retired members also attended. Thomas was the first Justice since 1941 to take the judicial oath in private. After a Brief reception for the justices 1 and their guests Thomas joined the chief supreme court justices gather after their newest member was sworn in from left they Are Clarence Thomas a Venn Whit  traditional posing for Pho Antonin Scalia John Paul Stevens Harry Blackmun Anthony Kennedy Sandra Day of Connor and chief Justice William Rehnquist. Sion for television radio and still photog Raphy coverage of the courtroom ceremony. Thomas 43, is Only the second Black tog Raphers and cameramen outside the court s Capitol Hill building. A ready to get to work a Thomas replied when asked How he was feeling. A you All have a Good Day. Off to  _ Thomas was then to participate in his supreme court Justice in history. He a first court conference the weekly Friday placed the retired Thurgood Marshall meeting of the justices behind closed who in 1967 was named the courts first doors to discuss pending cases. Black Justice. Rehnquist had rejected requests from Marshall was the Only retired Justice news organizations that sought Permis not to attend fridays ceremony. Retired chief Justice Warren e. Burger and retired justices William j. Brennan and Lewis f. Powell sat together on one Side of the crowded ornate courtroom. Thomas a Federal appeals court judge for fewer than two years when nominated to the top court by president Bush initially seemed assured of easily winning Senate confirmation. But Stormy and lurid confirmation hearings Over allegations of sexual harassment followed before the Senate judiciary committee. University of Oklahoma Law professor Anita Hill who worked for Thomas at the department of education and the Federal equal employment Opportunity commission alleged that he repeatedly asked her out and described pornographic movies he had seen. I my stars and stripes 10years ago nov. 3,1981 a several Hundred police officers battled an estimated 2,500 youths some masked or Hel meted at Frankfurt a main railway station in rioting triggered by the police eviction of squatters protesting plans to build a third runway for the City a International Airport. 20years ago nov. 3,1971 a before embarking on a trip to Vietnam to assess military and economic Progress being made there Secretary of defense Melvin r. Laird predicted that . Troop Levels in Vietnam would fell below president Nixon a target of 184,000 by dec. 1.30 year Sago nov. 3,1961 a Hurricane Hattie killed 99 people in British Honduras and the death toll was expected to climb.40 years ago nov. 3,1951 a More than 300 Allied and communist jets clashed in nine air Battles. It was the highest number of air encounters in a single Day since Jet fighters entered the korean War one year ago. Forest fires Blacken 216,000 acres in West Virginia seven other states big Creek . A fire fighters on Friday battled Forest and Brush fires that burned at least 216,000 acres in eight states blowing smoke As far West As Indiana officials said Friday. Most of the fires were in West Virginia where the state division of forestry estimated nearly 200,000 acres have burned since saturday. That a almost double thursdays estimate. The fires also destroyed vegetation in Georgia Kentucky Ohio North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee and Virginia. A that smoke got so thick this morn ing that i  breathe a said Keith Hatfield who worked Friday to stamp out a fire that threatened a neighbors Home in big Creek. About 520 fires have burned in West Virginia since oct. 26. About 40 still burned in the Southern part of the state Friday state forestry officials said. The estimate of burned acreage nearly doubled Friday because of More precise measurements said Ralph Glover Deputy administrative forester for the forestry division. Most of the West Virginia fires were believed to be the work of arsonists officials said. A shift in winds spread smoke As far West As Indiana. Scores of cars had their headlights on at midday in Charleston ., because of the smoke. A Pilot who asked not to be identified said the smoke irom West Virginia fires Rose to 5,000 feet As he flew from Charleston to Charlotte . Up to six John Adanis Junior High school students in Charleston were sickened by smoke from the fires principal Thomas Kidd said. A it triggered the lire alarm Quot he said. The worst area hit was in Mingo county where up to 95 percent of the Forest has been scorched or destroyed. Acle group backs workers right to pinups Jacksonville Fla. A the state chapter of the american civil liberties Union says Jacksonville shipyards workers have a first amendment right to display nude pinups in work areas and is joining the Appeal on a landmark sexual harassment ruling. . District judge Howell w. Melton found in favor of shipyard welder Lois Robinson when he ruled in january that sexually suggestive posters and calendars constituted sexual harassment. The shipyard and Robinson Are appealing Melton a ruling separately. The Acle and the company Are attempting to have the ruling reversed while Robinson is appealing Melton a denial of Back wages Lor absenteeism because of the harassment. Robinson on furlough from her shipyard Job was awarded $ 1. Robyn Blumner executive director of the Acle in Florida said the decision violates the constitutional guarantee of free expression. A the first amendment is abrogated when the Federal court forces the shipyards to remove Legal materials from their Walls a Blumner said adding the state chapter of the Acle decided thursday to join the Appeal. The National Acle disagrees with its Florida chapters position said Phil Gutis spokesman for the Acle in new York. A Many in the National organization were quite surprised to see the comments of the Florida executive director a Gutis said Friday. Quot this Case could have fallen into sexual  Robinsons attorney Alison wether Field of the National organization for women s Legal defense fund responded Friday a this has nothing to do with an attempt to undermine the first amendment. This is a sexual harassment  company attorney Eric Holshouser  comment on the Appeal or the Acle position