Linda Mullenix, the Morris & Rita Atlas Chair in Advocacy at the Law School, has written several articles analyzing Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, which was argued before the United States Supreme Court on March 29, 2011.
The original suit charges Wal-Mart with discriminating against women in promotions, pay, and job assignments in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It began in 2000, when a 54-year-old Wal-Mart worker in California, Betty Dukes, filed a sex discrimination claim against her employer, claiming that she was denied training she needed to advance to a higher, salaried position. Wal-Mart claimed Dukes clashed with a female Wal-Mart supervisor and was disciplined for admittedly returning late from lunch breaks.
Professor Mullenix published a Preview in issue #6 of the ABA Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases about Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes. A PDF copy of Mullenix’s preview detailing the arguments of both sides in the case is available here.
Additionally, opinion pieces authored by Professor Mullenix appeared in CNN, entitled “What Wal-Mart case means for women,” and in the Guardian, “Walmart women watch and wait,” on March 30, 2011. Mullenix also wrote an article analyzing Astra USA, Inc. v. Santa Clara County, “Opinion analysis: Third-party beneficiaries cannot sue drug manufacturers for over-charging,” for SCOTUSBlog on March 31.