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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 111 Introduced in House (IH)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 111

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Supreme 
Court of the United States should improve its employment practices with 
regard to hiring more qualified minority applicants to serve as clerks 
                            to the Justices.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 11, 1999

  Mr. Meeks of New York (for himself, Mr. Conyers, Mr Hilliard, Mrs. 
 Christensen, Ms. Horton, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Rush, Mr. Ford, 
Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mrs. Clayton, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Ms. Schakowsky, 
     Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Stark, Mr. Sandlin, Mr. Brady of 
  Pennsylvania, Mr. Kildee, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Lee, Mr. Cummings, Ms. 
Brown of Florida, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Dixon, Mr. 
 Underwood, Mr. Clay, Mr. Towns, Mr. Owens, and Mr. Rangel) submitted 
 the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Supreme 
Court of the United States should improve its employment practices with 
regard to hiring more qualified minority applicants to serve as clerks 
                            to the Justices.

Whereas the United States Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, has 
        the final say on such important issues as affirmative action, civil 
        rights, access to education, workplace discrimination, religious 
        freedom, prayer in school, voting rights, the 2000 Census, sexual 
        harassment, police brutality, and death penalty appeals;
Whereas each of the 9 Justices are allowed four law clerks a year;
Whereas the power these clerks hold is immense;
Whereas they review all cases brought before the court and help decide which 
        ones the Justices should hear;
Whereas while the Justices often determine how they will vote, the clerks 
        usually put in all the reasoning;
Whereas however, the United States Supreme Court has a shameful record in hiring 
        minority and women law clerks;
Whereas a recent study found that of the 428 law clerks hired during the 
        respective terms of the sitting Justices--

    (1) only 1.6 percent were African-American;

    (2) only 1.2 percent were Hispanic-American;

    (3) 4.2 percent were Asian-American;

    (4) none were Native-American; and

    (5) only 25.2 percent were women;

Whereas this, despite the fact that more than 40 percent of law school graduates 
        are now women and nearly 20 percent are minorities;
Whereas this lack of diversity within such an important body is unacceptable; 
        and
Whereas these clerks have a dramatic impact on the lives of every American, yet 
        they are in no way a reflection of America: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the United States Supreme Court should move in an 
        expeditious manner to improve its employment practices with 
        regard to hiring more qualified minority and women applicants 
        to serve as clerks;
            (2) the United States Supreme Court should implement 
        recruiting procedures to ensure that diversity is emphasized 
        and not undermined; and
            (3) the inferior courts of the United States will follow 
        the lead of the United States Supreme Court by improving their 
        employment practices and recruiting procedures to include more 
        minority and women law clerks.
                                 <all>
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