Articles by Heather Fuller

Blazing a Trail: Native American Women in the Law

One would think that by this point in our advanced society, we would no longer have any more “firsts,” such as the first female American president or the first Native American on the U.S. Supreme Court. Unfortunately, these are two of many […]

Ubuntu: Synergy in the Workplace

  Ubuntu – it is more than a word; it is a way of life. It is an Africa philosophy. It means humanity and roughly translates to “I am because we are.” It is an understanding and recognition that I […]

Skirts STILL (dresses) Not Required

  In June 2022, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision struck down a North Carolina charter school’s dress code requirement that female students wear skirts, skorts, or jumpers. This week, the Supreme Court let that decision stand. In […]

Native American Heritage Month: An Issue of Race and Sovereignty

  November is Native American Heritage Month. Although the calendar page has turned, it is perhaps, even more important to remember its significance.  Since 1990, this month has been set aside to recognize and celebrate Native American’s contributions and their […]

The Law Through Rose-Colored Glasses

I have always been drawn to the French song, La Vie en Rose (life in pink) and the companion phrase to see the world through rose-colored glasses. I’ve been fascinated by the thought of seeing situations and people I encounter […]

Fourth Circuit Strikes Down Skirt Requirement for Girls

Skirts (dresses) Not Required

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently struck down a North Carolina charter school’s dress code requirement that female students wear skirts, skorts, or jumpers. The 10-6 ruling in Peltier v. Charter Day School Inc. determined that the charter school, which receives 95% of its funding from federal, state, and local governments, is a state actor and thereby subject to the Constitution. The full panel concluded that the gender-specific dress code violated the Equal Protection Clause and may violate Title IV of the Education Amendments of 1972.