Hair Discrimination Update – Latest in NJ, NY and PA, including What the New PA CROWN Act Means for Your Practice
Date: Jul 30, 2026 12:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $99.00
Non-Member Price: $125.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: Diversity, Equity Jurisprudence
Earn up to 2 credits, including 2.0 in Diversity! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
Presenters
- Diana-Marie Laventure, Esq.
- Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP, New York
- Rep. Joanna E. McClinton
- Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Tracy Sanders Rucker, Esq.
- Founder, Natural Hair and the Law, Los Angeles
Featured Presentation by:
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Hair discrimination law continues to evolve rapidly, creating new opportunities and new compliance challenges for attorneys representing employees, businesses, educational institutions, and civil rights plaintiffs.
Join Tracy Sanders, Esq., founder of Natural Hair and the Law, and Diana-Marie Laventure, Esq., for a timely and practical update on the latest litigation, legislation, and emerging legal issues surrounding hair discrimination. The program will examine developments in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and the 27 other states that have enacted CROWN Act legislation, providing the insights practitioners need to effectively advise clients and litigate these claims.
Whether you represent plaintiffs, employers, educational institutions, or multi-state businesses, this program will equip you with the latest legal developments, strategic considerations, and practical resources to navigate this rapidly expanding area of law.
The presenters will begin with the legal history that gave rise to the CROWN Act movement, review significant New Jersey developments, and examine the newest states to enact CROWN Act legislation—Pennsylvania and Missouri. The program will also feature a recorded presentation by Rep. Joanna E. McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, discussing Pennsylvania's landmark legislation.
The seminar will compare the remedies available under the CROWN Acts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other jurisdictions, highlighting critical differences that can directly affect litigation strategy, case valuation, and client counseling. The presenters will also analyze pending federal legislation and discuss what practitioners should expect moving forward.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and will receive valuable practice tools, including a comprehensive state CROWN Act reference chart and a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction checklist identifying available remedies—including private rights of action, administrative remedies, or both.
Topics include:
- Recent developments under the New Jersey CROWN Act and significant case law
- The new Pennsylvania CROWN Act and its practical implications
- Natural hair braiders and economic liberty: Do licensing requirements violate constitutional protections?
- Ancestral braiding as protected cultural and religious expression
- Updates on federal and state anti-discrimination laws addressing hair texture and protective hairstyles in employment and educational settings
- A nationwide survey of CROWN Act legislation, including enforcement mechanisms, available remedies, and litigation considerations
- Pending federal legislation and what it could mean for employers, employees, and practitioners
Stay ahead of this rapidly developing area of law with practical guidance, strategic analysis, and take-home resources you can use immediately in your practice.
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