CHRISTINE GRIFFIN TAKES OATH AS EEOC COMMISSIONER

Bipartisan Five-Member Commission Again at Full Complement

WASHINGTON -- Christine M. Griffin was sworn in today as a Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), bringing the bipartisan panel to its full five-member complement for the first time in more than a year.  Ms. Griffin was nominated by President George W. Bush on July 28, 2005, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 4 to serve the remainder of a five-year term expiring July 1, 2009.

"Christine Griffin brings to the Commission a wealth of talent and experience in employment law and disability issues that will serve the American public well," said EEOC Chair Cari M. Dominguez, noting that Ms. Griffin worked at the agency in the mid-1990s as a senior staff attorney.  "On behalf of my fellow Commissioners, I welcome Commissioner Griffin back and look forward to working closely with her."

Ms. Griffin joins Chair Dominguez, Vice Chair Naomi C. Earp and Commissioners Leslie E. Silverman and Stuart J. Ishimaru on the five-member Commission.  Commissioners are appointed to staggered five-year terms, with the President designating a Chair as the agency's chief executive officer and a Vice Chair.  The Commission makes equal employment opportunity policy and approves litigation in consultation with the General Counsel.

"It is an honor to be appointed to the agency responsible for ensuring that all people are treated equally in the workplace," Ms. Griffin said. "Employment is the key to the American dream and no one should be deprived of an employment opportunity because of discrimination.  This is an exciting opportunity and I am eager to begin working with the Chair, Vice Chair, my fellow Commissioners and all of the dedicated EEOC staff here at headquarters and throughout the nation."

Ms. Griffin's experience in labor and employment law includes positions in both the public and private sectors.  Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of the Disability Law Center in Boston, from 1996 to 2005.  The Law Center provides legal advocacy on disability issues that promote the fundamental rights of all people with disabilities to participate fully and equally in the social and economic life of Massachusetts.  As Executive Director, she provided leadership for the Law Center's 25 employees and conducted its overall management, including programmatic and fiscal planning, priority setting and implementation, and fundraising. 

Prior to that, Ms. Griffin served from 1995 to 1996 as an Attorney Advisor to the former Vice Chair of the EEOC, Paul M. Igasaki, advising him on legal matters and policy issues.  Ms. Griffin's other federal work experience includes serving in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Army.

A native of Boston, Ms. Griffin is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and served as its Interim President from 1993 to 1994.  She is also a graduate of Boston College Law School and, upon graduation, was awarded a Skadden Arps Fellowship at the Disability Law Center.  Ms. Griffin has served on many boards and task forces, including the national Social Security Administration Ticket to Work Advisory Panel, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.  In December 2005, Ms. Griffin was selected as one of the nation's eleven "Lawyers of the Year" by Lawyers Weekly USA newspaper.

EEOC is the federal government agency responsible for enforcing the nation's laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), religion, national origin, retaliation, age and disability.  Further information about the Commission is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.