On September 30, 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the McLennan County Sheriff's Department under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The U.S. sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII, by discriminating against female employees.

The U.S. alleged that the Sheriff's Department did not allow female employees opportunity to obtain training and experience as Field Deputies by serving as substitute night Field Deputies. It was demonstrated that during the years 1991 to 1997, 14 male employees were promoted from within to the Field Deputy position, all of which had obtained training as substitute night Field Deputies.

On October 2, 1998, the District Court (Judge Walter S. Smith) entered a Consent Decree approved by both parties. The McLennan County Sheriff's Department agreed to institute practices safeguarding against future discrimination, including holding a training sessions for female employees interested in the night position, as well as recording and reporting the number of female employees who apply and complete training as Field Deputies as requested by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Subsequent to the Consent Decree, a female employee who had experienced discrimination prior to the court decision made a number of attempts to become an intervenor plaintiff in the trial. These motions were denied.

We have no further information on this case.

Jane Wu - 11/05/2007


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