Justice for All Act: Strengthening Anti-Discrimination Rights and Court Access
This Act aims to restore and strengthen protections against discrimination in various aspects of life, such as education, housing, and employment. It makes it easier for citizens to pursue their rights in court when experiencing discrimination, including that resulting from seemingly neutral practices that have a negative impact on specific groups. The Act also introduces new definitions of discrimination, encompassing sexual orientation, gender identity, and natural hairstyles.
Key points
Easier Discrimination Claims: Citizens will find it easier to sue entities that engage in discriminatory practices, even if there's no direct intent to discriminate, but their actions negatively affect specific groups (known as "disparate impact").
Expanded Definition of Discrimination: The Act explicitly states that sex discrimination includes sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics (including intersex traits), and sex stereotypes. Additionally, race discrimination now covers discrimination related to natural hair texture and protective hairstyles.
Prohibition of Law Enforcement Profiling: Law enforcement agents will be prohibited from relying on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation when selecting individuals for routine investigations, unless there is trustworthy information linking a specific characteristic to an identified criminal incident.
Restriction on Arbitration Agreements: Pre-dispute arbitration agreements that force arbitration of future employment, consumer, or civil rights disputes are rendered invalid. This means citizens will retain their right to resolve such disputes in court.
Enhanced Employer Liability: Employers will be held liable for any discriminatory acts committed by their employees, and the existence of an anti-harassment policy or lack of future harm will no longer serve as a defense in sexual harassment cases.
Easier Access to Damages and Attorney's Fees: The Act reinstates the ability to recover attorney's fees when a discrimination lawsuit is won through a settlement, encouraging the enforcement of civil rights.
Expired
Citizen Poll