P.S. Nice to see you, Richard! ;-)
We still have all white juries trying cases which significantly impacts the rights of minorities. We undeniable [sic] still have a justice system that does not provide justice for all as provided by the Pledge of Allegiance. One justice for the rich, one justice for the poor. One justice sometimes for minorities, one for whites. We had a telling conversation this week about whether to have a debate about whether the justice systems in this nation have two standards for publication in a national legal magazine. The consensus of the group considering this issue with little discussion was that such a debate would spark little interest. Why? Because most people who look at the statistics concede -- justice for all does not exist.Issues of discrimination are near and dear to the hearts of women executives like yourself-- the sense that glass ceilings still exist, that sexual harassment continues, that networks which by their nature are not friendly to women are real. No question improvement is occurring. I was told yesterday that the California Bar will this year most likely elect a woman president for the first time ever. The state that supposedly stands for equal rights. But I have been proud that Texas jumped that hurdle first and that Florida and California, the first and third largest bars in the nation, Texas being number two, have followed close behind. Times are improving but issues still remain. Achievement for women at the highest ranks is still not the norm but the exception. And again issues of discrimination are more and more recognized as seated in economic concerns--minimizing the number who are able to participate in the slicing of the pie. -- Harriet Miers