From Statute to Standard: How Courts Interpret Title VII and Other Workplace Discrimination Laws
Available On Demand
Courts bring laws to life, transforming statutes into real-world decisions that shape workplaces nationwide. The U.S. judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, plays a pivotal and evolving role in defining the scope of equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
This webinar will examine how courts implement and interpret Title VII and other key EEO laws, shaping what constitutes discrimination, how it’s proven, and how it affects employers and employees alike. We’ll analyze landmark decisions from McDonnell Douglas, which established the foundational legal framework, to the recent shift reflected in cases like Muldrow v. City of St. Louis and anticipated rulings such as Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services.
We’ll also examine how lower courts apply these precedents, balancing the text of the law with evolving understandings of how discrimination manifests in the real world — and how the judiciary works to fulfill the promises of EEO laws. Finally, we’ll consider the judiciary’s interaction with the executive branch and what this dynamic means for the future of EEO enforcement and litigation.
If you’re tracking changes in discrimination law or want to understand how judicial decisions shape workplace compliance, this session offers vital insight into where the law is — and where it’s headed.
Session takeaways:
- Understand judicial impact: gain insight into how courts — from the Supreme Court to lower federal courts — shape the meaning and enforcement of Title VII and other key EEO laws.
- Stay ahead of legal shifts: explore recent decisions like Muldrow v. City of St. Louis and anticipated rulings such as Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, and what they indicate about the evolving landscape of workplace discrimination law.
- Connect law to practice: learn how to turn complex legal developments into practical strategies for HR compliance, risk management, and employee relations.
- Anticipate legal trends: discover how evolving judicial interpretations may affect internal investigations, compliance obligations, and legal risk in the workplace.
- SHRM Knowledge Advisors will join the live webinar to answer your questions in real time—right in the chat. If we don’t get to your question during the session? No problem, SHRM members can head to SHRM Connect after this webinar to keep the conversation going with advisors for 30 extra minutes. This benefit is only for members who join the live webinar and not included later on demand.
Meet the Presenters
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Emily M. Dickens
Emily M. Dickens is a member of the executive team at SHRM, the world’s largest human resources trade association and 4th largest trade association in the world. Emily leads government affairs, global policy, legal affairs, and the SHRM Foundation. She is a recognized expert on workplace issues with media appearances in outlets like CBS News, the Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. She has testified before Congress and the EEOC on topics such as AI, gender bias, and paid leave. Dickens serves on several boards, including the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), and has held leadership roles at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the University of North Carolina System. She is actively involved in community service and serves as the Chair to the Board of Trustees for North Carolina Central University, on the NCNW Board of Directors, and is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Dickens holds degrees from North Carolina Central University and its School of Law.
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James L. Banks, Jr.
James L. Banks, Jr. is General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer at Charities Aid Foundation America. He is a highly skilled and seasoned leader, educator, and advisor, with extensive expertise in law, risk management, leadership, and organizational management. With over 25 years in the legal industry, he has honed his skills and developed a reputation as an effective leader and problem solver. Banks’ career includes a proven track-record of forging strong relationships and working effectively at all organizational levels. He specializes in general corporate law, risk management, employment law, executive coaching/leadership development, legal ethics, public sector governance, and fostering collaboration for organizational growth and excellence across diverse sectors.
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Carena Lemons, Esp.
Carena Lemons, Esp. is an Attorney with The Lemons Law Firm, PLLC. She has over 23 years of experience practicing law. Lemons served on the Board of Directors for Durham Orange Women Attorneys (DOWA) and the Greater Raleigh Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She is a former member of the 14th Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee where she investigated bar grievances in her district. She currently serves on the Sports and Entertainment Law Council for the North Carolina Bar Association. She focuses her law practice, The Lemons Law Firm, PLLC, on employment law and entertainment law as a litigator and legal advisor. Lemons enjoys serving as a volunteer for the North Carolina Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) which she teaches CLEs on mental health and assists lawyers that are dealing with mental health issues. She is also creator and host of a television talk show, an actress, a minister and sings on the praise team at her church. She is married and has two amazing daughters.
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Chris Micheli
Chris Micheli is an Attorney and Lobbyist at the Sacramento governmental relations firm of Snodgrass & Micheli, LLC. He has represented SHRM at the State Capitol for the past four years and served as an Adjunct Professor at McGeorge School of Law and UC Davis King Hall School of Law.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.