I picked up the movie "North Country" over the weekend. Its based on the story of the nation's first class-action sexual-harassment suit, which settled in 1998, two decades after the abuse started. Although the courtroom dramatics at the end were a little--no strike-that-- a lot unbelievable, the overall film was well done. I related to what the women had gone through having had more than one boss over my long career in a male-dominated industry that thought it just fine to make comments about my physique, ogle, make sexual innuendo and even threaten my job at one time. I remember being told by other male co-workers to "lighten up" and "oh, that's just the way so & so is--he's harmless. Yeah, right. Funny that a management consultant did not see it that way and advised upper management to remedy at least one of those work situations pronto before I lost my entire sense of humor and slapped them with a lawsuit. They were lucky that at the time I was more forgiving and naive.

Unimaginable what these women had to endure in order to keep their jobs. I was fortunate in being able to have other employment options, one of which was starting my own business and becoming head-to-head competition for the worst of the idiots. No one should have to put up with this crap, but it still goes on today. The Clarence Thomas hearing was not that long ago. It was interesting to watch with my significant other who could empathize with the women, but had none of their experience and could subsequently easily accept the closing titles showing a settlement for the women. For me, it took quite some time to put the themes aside again. I hope that my daughter never have to encounter this in the job market and actually be considered for her accomplishments rather than her physical attributes.

Derek Sawyer, 32 of Glennallen, Alaska, has been charged with Murder in the first degree for the shooting death of his wife, Gretchen Sawyer, who was 20 years old at the time of her death. During the initial investigation, he claimed she had been shot while he was showering by their 2-year old son. Crime scene reconstruction by the Alaska State Trooper Cold Case Unit and further forensic testing of evidence indicated the child was not the shooter. There had been a prior divorce filing, paternity of the 2 year old had been in question at the time, and the couple had recently reconciled and were purportedly planning a move to Gretchen's home state.

Kudos to senior assistant attorney Rick Svobodny and Susan Parkes, deputy attorney general for reviving this case. One has to wonder how it ever went un-investigated in the first place.

The next question remains...who has been raising the couple's child then and who is caring for him now?

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/7474066p-7384293c.html
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/v-printer/story/7474066p-7384293c.html

Women and Public Policy in Alaska
The Gender Equality Section of the Alaska Bar and the Anchorage Association of Women Lawyers are presenting a forum on Women in Public Policy. Wednesday, Mar. 8, at 12 noon, in the Hilton Hotel Chart Room. Call 907-566-6257 by Monday, Mar. 6 to RSVP. The panel will feature Susan Reeves (moderator), Judge Morgan Christen, Marcia Davis, Heather Kendall-Miller, and Gail Schubert. Topics include: the role of women in policy development, women as policy-makers, women as those who carry out the policies of other decision-makers, and why women are needed in public policy roles. 1 CLE credit.

Superior Court Judges Standing for Retention Election in 2006
Weeks, Zervos, Erlich, Esch, Bolger, Brown,Huguelet, Michalski, Morse, Smith, Suddock, Tan, Torrisi, Volland, Wolverton, Devaney, Olsen, Wood.

In talking with many Alaskan voters, the Polar Digress has found that few have any idea about how their state judges are truly performing.

So Alaska, here's time to disseminate information. How have these Superior Court judges performed on the most important cases that come before them--child custody cases? Any children sent to abusive homes unsupervised? Any given over to the full custody of theirs or their protective parent's abuser? Time to get the word out.