Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill Hearing: Its Impact Today

Join us as retired attorney Oak Dowling, utilizing documentary footage, provides us with commentary on the stunning events of October 11, 1991. Anita Hill, a former staff person, surfaced after the Thomas confirmation process appeared to be all but certain. She accused Thomas of sexual harassment, reluctantly coming forward as she felt a strong obligation to share information on his character and actions. Thomas’ opinion of the whole affair was that it was a “high-tech lynching for uppity blacks.” 

With a nation that was riveted to this very public situation, which was long before the Me Too era, Hill’s unprecedented act took tremendous courage.  Four female witnesses were available to support Hill’s credibility, but they were never called to testify. Unfortunately, history may deem that this was not the finest hour for the then chairman of the U.S. Senate Committe on the Judiciary, Joe Biden. 

Oak Dowling, JD, is a retired attorney with 43 years of practice. He’s a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison Law School and a native of Chicago. He was a part-time Instructor of Law at College of Marin and has been an Instructor in the OLLI program at Dominican University for 13 years.  In his law classes, he uses courtroom drama to demonstrate legal principles.  

Oak has lived in Marin County for 50 years and was happily married for 61 years.  He has been a member of the Marin County Financial Abuse Specialist Team (“FAST”) and was selected as Outstanding Marin County Volunteer of the Year for 2012-2013. As an avocation, he has performed in theatre in Marin and San Francisco for 15 years.