Articles by Heather Fuller

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.

A Black Woman on the Supreme Court: It’s a Good Start

In 2015, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that there would be enough women on the U.S. Supreme Court when there are nine. It’s time we go a step further and ensure that these nine women come from diverse […]

According To Coco Chanel: Professional Dress Code in the Virtual World

Suit up or Unsuit? The professional dress code has undergone significant changes since the onset of the global pandemic. Even before many professionals began working remotely, work attire had relaxed, at times inappropriately so. Now Zoom and other platforms have […]

Empathy and the Law – An Often Overlooked Superpower

Harness A New Superpower Empathy goes beyond sympathy and compassion. It allows for a deeper understanding of others and their circumstances. Being empathetic does not imply weakness or being a pushover. Quite the contrary – empathy is a superpower that […]

Diversity on the Bench – When There Are Nine

When There Are Nine Diversity improves most groups or endeavors. Diversity in a workplace encourages creativity and innovation and brings together a variety of views that result in better ideas. Diversity in positions of power is essential, particularly the judicial […]

The Bar Exam for a Lawyer who Paused

Another Glass Ceiling After I paused my legal career to raise three children, I faced hurdles when I tried to re-enter the workforce. I lacked a network and opportunities and faced the implicit bias that I was too old and […]