Law Commons^™

The Role Of Suspicion In Federal Equal Protection, Paul E. Mcgreal

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Recently, Professor Jed Rubenfeld wrote an essay arguing that the Supreme Court's strict scrutiny test for equal protection works best to "smoke out" the purpose of laws to determine whether they were enacted because of racial bias or preference. Professor Rubenfeld criticized the Court's most recent affirmative action decision in Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena for departing from this "smoking out" approach.

In this Essay, Professor McGreal explores how this "smoking out" process is applied in federal equal protection cases. Counter to Professor Rubenfeld's view, he argues that the Supreme Court did use a "smoking out" approach in Adarand. His …

Discriminatory Effects: Desegregation Litigation In Higher Education In Georgia, Molly O'Brien

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

While no one can deny the importance of desegregating all educational institutions over the past half-century, one of the unexpected consequences of the movement has been to make uncertain the legality of historically black public colleges. This uncertainty has created an opportunity for those who oppose historically black colleges, for whatever reason, to bring suit against them and potentially close their doors for not enrolling a student body that represents the racial make-up of the state. Professor O'Brien explores this issue in her Article by chronicling the progress of higher education in Georgia, from the establishment of a dual system, …

Section 6: Civil Rights, Institute Of Bill Of Rights Law, William & Mary Law School

Supreme Court Preview

No abstract provided.

Fourth Amendment Issues In Section 1983 Litigation, Kathryn R. Urbonya

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Institutional Analysis Of Municipal Liability Under Section 1983, Michael J. Gerhardt

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

There's Nothing Special About Sex: The Supreme Court Mainstreams Sexual Harassment, Rebecca Hanner White

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

In this Essay, Professor White argues that the Supreme Court finally has merged analysis of sexual harassment law with other claims of intentional discrimination. Professor White contends that the Court's decision in Meritor Savings Bank, FSB v. Vinson created confusion over the proper analysis of sexual harassment claims by seemingly embracing quid pro quo and hostile work environment theories as distinct forms of discrimination and by suggesting that at least some sexual harassment claims may warrant a revised approach to employer liability. In the wake of Meritor, sexual harassment claims increasingly were evaluated differently from other claims of disparate treatment, …

Taking Discrimination Seriously: Oncale And The Fate Of Exceptionalism In Sexual Harassment Law, Steven L. Willborn

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

In both the case law and the literature, sexual harassment is treated as an exceptional and unique form of discrimination. In this Article, Professor Willborn expands on the Supreme Court's recent decision in Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc. to argue that this exceptionalism should be rejected and that harassment law should return to its roots in the broader body of antidiscrimination law. Professor Willborn begins by articulating the contours of a discrimination-centered model of sexual harassment and explaining how it differs from currently accepted views. He then reviews the Supreme Court's recent cases on sexual harassment, concluding that they …

Strengthening Title Vii: 1997-1998 Sexual Harassment Jurisprudence, Elizabeth D. Evans

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Faragher, Ellerth, And The Federal Law Of Vicarious Liability For Sexual Harassment By Supervisors: Something Lost, Something Gained, And Something To Guard Against, William R. Corbett

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

In this Essay, the author faces his nightmare exam question: he must define "sexual harassment" to the satisfaction of several potential graders with different perspectives on sexual harassment law. His valiant effort to justify his response leads him to a discussion of the federal law of vicarious liability for sexual harassment by supervisors after the Supreme Court's recent rejection of tort law respondeat superior analysis for such claims under Title VII. The author argues that, while the rejection of the tort standard for vicarious liability in Title VII claims removes the longstanding connection between Title VII law and state tort …

The Plain Meaning Of Oncale, Catherine J. Lanctot

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

The unanimous Supreme Court opinion in Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc. caught many observers by surprise. Even more surprising than the Court's unanimity on the divisive issue of same-sex harassment, however, was the author of the opinion-the deeply conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. Many commentators suggest that the opinion's requirement that plaintiffs prove that the harassment was "because of sex" will hamper lawsuits arising from single-sex work environments. Attempts to fit the decision within traditional Title VII jurisprudence inevitably will be clouded by conjecture about Scalia's true intent. Indeed, after one year of experience with Oncale, the judicial record is …

Civil Rights Without Remedies: Vicarious Liability Under Title Vii, Section 1983, And Title Ix, Catherine Fisk, Erwin Chemerinsky

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

The Supreme Court has taken an inconsistent approach to allowing vicarious liability under major civil rights statutes. In recent cases, the Court has permitted qualified vicarious liability for supervisors' sexual harassment under Title VII, but rejected vicarious liability under Title IX. Earlier, the Court rejected vicarious liability for local governments sued under Section 1983. In this Article, Professors Fisk and Chemerinsky describe the Court's inconsistent approaches and argue that they cannot bejustfied by the text or legislative history of these statutes. Professors Fisk and Chemerinsky argue that each of these statutes is meant to achieve the same purpose, deterring civil …

Reflections On Coercing Privacy, Neal Devins

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Hatefulness Of Protected Speech: A Comparison Of The American And European Approaches, Sionaidh Douglas-Scott

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

In its First Amendment jurisprudence, the United States Supreme Court has construed very broadly the constitutional protection of free speech. Similarly democratic governments in Europe, however, have adopted laws restricting certain types of speech-particularly hate speech-based on the view that the human rights of oppressed groups cannot be protected fully if hate speech is permitted In this provocative Article, Professor Douglas-Scott briefly examines the American approach and contrasts it with the rationale underpinning European, especially German, law. Focusing on hate speech and the denial of the Holocaust voiced largely by neo-Nazi and other right-wing groups, she argues that such speech …

The Virginia Human Rights Act: Court's Decision Could Hurt Victims Of Job Discrimination, Susan Grover

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Civil Rights Act Of 1991 -- Employer Liability For Punitive Damages In Title Vii Claims, Angela M. Banks

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Looking At Communities And Markets, Lan Cao

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.