Thomas L. Hayes graduated from the University of Vermont and earned a law degree from Georgetown University. He began his career in public service, working for a prominent political figure before transitioning to the judiciary. Hayes served as a judge on the Vermont Superior Court and later as a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. He also held leadership roles in education, including serving as chairman of the Vermont State Board of Education. Hayes' career was marked by a shift from Republican to Democrat and notable contributions to judicial conduct and education policy.

Thomas L. Hayes's political identity is marked by a distinctive ideological agility, particularly evident in his shift from Republican to Democrat post-1970. His legislative focus on state constitutions, especially in economic and judicial contexts, reveals a commitment to localized governance and a wariness of federal overreach. Hayes's vocal opposition to the Vietnam War, coupled with his judicial tenure and subsequent misconduct charges, showcases a complex interplay between his principled stands and controversial decisions.