[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 591 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 591

 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

                            October 9, 1998

  Mr. Meeks of New York (for himself, Mr. Conyers, and Mr. Jackson of 
Illinois) 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 applicants to serve as 
        clerks; and
            (2) the United States Supreme Court should implement 
        recruiting procedures to ensure that diversity is emphasized 
        and not undermined.
                                 <all>