Yesterday, the world learned what many people in legal academia had already known for years — that the Tiger Mother herself, Yale Law professor Amy Chua, had been grooming women for their clerkship interviews with Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, suggesting that they “dress to exude a ‘model-like’ femininity.” In fact, Chua apparently prides herself on her ability to prep and preen the women she sent to Kavanaugh’s chambers, having reportedly told a group of law students that it was “not an accident” that all of his female law clerks “looked like models.”

At the same time, it was disclosed that Chua’s husband, Yale Law professor Jed Rubenfeld — who had reportedly warned a student to avoid clerking with Kavanaugh — is the subject of an internal investigation at the school having to do with allegations of harassment of and inappropriate conduct towards female students. All of this news, of course, came hot on the heels of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s accusations against Kavanaugh of an attempted sexual assault while they were in high school.

Students of all stripes at Yale were already displeased with the way the school has handled the situation, calling for Dean Heather Gerken to rescind her “endorsement” of Kavanaugh and speak out against him. Now, in the wake of the revelations about Professor Chua’s role as Kavanaugh’s clerkship madam, law students are protesting.

These posters were displayed at Yale Law this morning, to illustrate the ways in which the school has shielded sexual harassers and abusers from accountability:













In response to the controversies Yale Law is dealing with, Dean Gerken told members of the community that “[f]aculty misconduct has no place at Yale Law School,” and that “appropriate action” would be taken on any complaints, as “[t]he Law School has a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which all of our students can live and learn in a community of mutual respect, free of harassment of any kind.” But in times like these, Gerken’s assurances are just words until actions are taken.

One such action has already been taken by the Yale Law faculty (with some key people missing, of course), in encouraging the Senate Judiciary Committee to treat Dr. Blasey Ford with respect and allow the FBI the time necessary to investigate the allegations that have been made. Their open letter to the SJC can be found on the next page.

UPDATE (1:55 p.m.): Dean Gerken released the following statement related to the faculty’s open letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee:

As Dean of the Law School I have not and cannot take a position for or against a nominee (see our policy below). It’s a thoughtful statement and I support the efforts of individual faculty members to engage with these important issues. *Yale Law School is a nonpartisan institution. While individual faculty members may make comments regarding a particular candidate, the Law School neither endorses nor opposes candidates for office.

What will happen to Professor Chua and Professor Rubenfeld for their respective roles in this #MeToo mess? Yes, they are tenured members of the faculty, but students do not deserve to be treated like this — especially at a school like Yale Law, which holds itself out as a bastion of high intellect and character. As one of the student protest signs wonders, “Is there nothing more important to YLS than its proximity to power and prestige?” We suppose we’ll have to wait and see just how important it is.

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.