Debra Ellwood Meppen, Chair of the Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Employment Law practice group, was recently featured in a Law360 article discussing the top five cases that discrimination attorneys should have on their radar in the new year.
The article discusses the Supreme Court review of affirmative action, and religious and LGBTQ rights, the Fifth Circuit review on Title VII discrimination cases, and the Goldman Sachs sex bias trial.
Regarding a Supreme Court decision expected to come this summer in two high-profile lawsuits over affirmative action in higher education, Ms. Meppen noted that a Supreme Court decision against affirmative action could create a more homogenous recruitment pipeline for employers, leading to a less diverse workforce.
“If you see a less diverse scholastic environment, you’re going to have less enriched educational experiences for all students, and you’re going to have a less diverse graduating class, and those employers who are feeding from these schools are going to have a less diverse workforce,” Meppen said.
“I see this spillover into the incoming workforce. It’s going to look completely different over time, and that is a potential negative impact that could be significant,” Meppen added.
The cases are Students for Fair Admissions Inc., Petitioner v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, case number 20-1199, and Students for Fair Admissions Inc., Petitioner v. University of North Carolina, et al., case number 21-707 in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meppen is a litigation partner representing and defending employers, management and talent in all aspects of Federal and California employment matters. She has an active employment litigation and counseling practice defending both private and public entities, as well as individuals against claims of discrimination, retaliation, FMLA, wrongful termination, defamation and harassment claims. In addition, Meppen has handles large scale PAGA and wage and hour class action litigation throughout California.
The full article on Law360 can be seen here, subscription may be required.