Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: An Evolution of the Law 60 Years Later

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association, the H.T. Lockard Foundation, the Memphis Bar Association, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will hold a continuing legal education seminar at the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The CLE will address the Evolution of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 60 Years since its enactment. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law on July 2, 1964, remains one of the most significant legislative achievements in American history. The Act prohibits discrimination in a broad array of private conduct including public accommodations, governmental services, and education. One section of the Act, Title VII, prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, and national origin. Title VII prohibits discrimination in recruitment, hiring, wages, assignment, promotions, benefits, discipline, discharge, layoffs and in almost every aspect of employment. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also created the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a five-member, bipartisan commission whose mission is to eliminate unlawful employment discrimination. Title VII provides that the Commissioners, no more than three of whom may be from the same political party, are appointed to five-year terms by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The President also appoints a General Counsel who is confirmed by the Senate to a four-year term.

Agenda

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.        Hot Button Issues Affecting the Workplace 

                                                 Moderator: Faye Williams - Regional Attorney,

                                              Office of the General Counsel, EEOC

                                                 Panelists:

                                                 Bryce Ashby - Attorney, Donati Law, PLLC

                                              M. Kimberly Hodges - Office Managing Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins

                                              Tressa Johnson - Partner, Johnson & Bennett, PLLC

                                              Terrence Reed - Managing Director of Employment and ERISA

                                              Litigation, Federal Express Corporation

2:45 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.        Break

2:50 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.        Best Practices for Appellate Preparation, Oral Argument, and Brief         

                                              Drafting

                                              The Honorable Andre Mathis, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals 

                                              Edward Stanton, III - Member, Butler Snow

3:50 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.       Break

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm         Keynote Address: Karla Gilbride, General Counsel, EEOC

5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.        Reception: Meet & Greet with General Counsel Gilbride