An important update in the Me Too era: legislation to overhaul the handling of sexual harassment claims in Congress was passed by both chambers. Read more here: https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/senate-passes-sexual-harassment-bill-unanimous-consent
The gains of the Me Too movement have stalled in Congress as it tries to regulate its own workplace. Read more here: https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/clock-ticks-sexual-harassment-proposals-congress
Kollaritsch v. Michigan State Board of Trustees is a case in the 6th Circuit that presents a legal issue similar to that in the case of Weckhorst v. Kansas State University (in which we also joined the amicus brief): whether a university’s deliberate indifference to plaintiff’s reported assaults deprived them of educational opportunities in violation of Title IX. Specifically, the question was whether the plaintiffs were required to show that their school’s deliberate indifference caused them to suffer further harassment or the fact that after the initial harassment (and the school’s failure to timely investigate) it was sufficient to show, as a violation under Title IX, that they were afraid to go to classes or activities or even stay in school.
After watching Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday, Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network’s Board felt compelled to deliver yet a third letter to all U. S. Senators.
WLGAN’s first letter outlined the substantive positions that Judge Kavanaugh has taken in the past that we believe signal a judicial view that will very likely adversely impact women. The second letter called upon the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a full and non-partisan hearing regarding Professor Blasey Ford’s sexual assault allegations.
The third letter (link HERE) points out to the Senate that Brett Kavanuagh’s demeanor and responses at the Senate Judiciary Hearing (which is still not the full investigation of the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh that we called for) indicates a grave lack of judicial temperament especially for a position on the Supreme Court.
The Senate vote is scheduled for Friday, October 5. We urge you to express your opinion to your Senators and, if you are in DC on Thursday, October, 4th, to attend a rally at 12:30 PM at the Barrett Prettyman Courthouse- 333 Constitution Ave, NW.
Thank you!
A former rape crisis counselor draws on her experience and offers urgent advice to the Senate deliberating on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court: do not brush aside the testimony of sexual assault survivors. Read more here: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/former-rape-crisis-counselor-senate-judiciary-committee-brett-kavanaugh_us_5bacbe79e4b091df72ee171e?7q
In an insightful op-ed, Ally Coll Steele, President of The Purple Campaign, a non-profit dedicated to eradicating sexual harassment, points out that Senator Grassley must accord Dr. Ford (and any person who has accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault) of the same procedures he advocated for in the bill he introduced in the Senate to address sexual harassment. Read more here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/opinion-sen-grassley-should-give-kavanaughs-accuser-the-investigation-he-says-metoo-victims-deserve
