The 1991 Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill sexual harassment claims produced sensational headlines and introduced sexual harassment into the national dialogue. The subject has now returned to the spotlight as October marks the 20th anniversary of the hearings.
While Americans became more conscious of sexual harassment claims in the wake of Justice Thomas’s confirmation hearings, the first Supreme Court sexual harassment opinion, Meritor v. Vinson, was issued in 1986. In that case, the court found that sexual harassment was sex discrimination.
We’re curious: Did Hill’s sexual harassment claims against Justice Thomas affect his outlook in Supreme Court sexual harassment cases? Let’s take a look at five of the sexual harassment claims to come before The Nine since 1991.
Based on this limited survey of cases, it seems that Justice Thomas votes against plaintiffs in Supreme Court sexual harassment cases. Do you think this trend can be attributed to past personal experience, or is it merely an extension of ideology?
Related Resources:
- The Legacy of the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill Hearings (The Washington Post)
- Seventh Circuit: Wrongful Termination Suit Has Issues (FindLaw’s Seventh Circuit blog)
- How to Spot Sexual Harassment: 6 Facts (FindLaw’s Law & Daily Life)
- How to Avoid Office Party Sexual Harassment (FindLaw’s Free Enterprise)
You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help
Civil Rights
Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
Criminal
Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records
Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules
