Charlotte Burrows

Burrows is the daughter of Rodney Burrows, a professor of political science.{{Cite web|title=The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions|url=https://www.help.senate.gov/download/burrows|access-date=2021-10-23|website=www.help.senate.gov|language=en}} Burrows graduated from Princeton University in 1992, and is a member of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni (ABPA).{{Cite web|title=Association of Black Princeton Alumni|url=https://tigernet2.princeton.edu/topics/4464|access-date=2021-10-23|website=Princeton University|language=en}} Burrows later attended Yale Law School, where she received a Juris Doctor in 1996.{{Cite web|title=YLW Presents: EEOC Commissioner Charlotte Burrows - Yale Law School|url=https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/yale-law-school-events/ylw-presents-eeoc-commissioner-charlotte-burrows|access-date=2021-10-23|website=law.yale.edu}}

After graduating from law school, Burrows became a clerk for Judge Timothy K. Lewis of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. While in private practice, Burrows was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton.{{Cite web|title=Charlotte Burrows Sworn In as EEOC Commissioner {{!}} U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission|url=https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/charlotte-burrows-sworn-eeoc-commissioner|access-date=2021-10-23|website=www.eeoc.gov}}

Burrows was a top aide to Senator Ted Kennedy Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee as well as the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her time on Capitol Hill, Burrows worked on legislation including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and 2008 amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).{{Cite web|title=YLW's #metoo Series with Commissioner Charlotte Burrows of The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Yale Law School|url=https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/yale-law-school-events/ylws-metoo-series-commissioner-charlotte-burrows-equal-employment-opportunity-commission|access-date=2021-10-24|website=law.yale.edu}}

Burrows served within the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division's Employment Litigation Section. In 2009, Burrows became an associate deputy attorney general within the DOJ.{{Cite web|title=Obama to Nominate DOJ Official BurrowsTo Fill Vacant EEOC Seat, White House Says|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/obama-to-nominate-doj-official-burrows-to-fill-vacant-eeoc-seat-white-house-says|access-date=2021-10-23|website=news.bloomberglaw.com|language=en}}

On September 12, 2014, President Barack Obama announced that Burrows would be nominated to replace Jacqueline A. Berrien on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).{{Cite web|last=Wilkie|first=Dana|date=2014-09-17|title=Justice Department's Charlotte Burrows Nominated to EEOC|url=https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/behavioral-competencies/global-and-cultural-effectiveness/pages/burrows-is-eeoc-nominee-.aspx|access-date=2021-10-23|website=SHRM|language=en-US}} Burrows was confirmed by the Senate by a 93–2 vote, and took office on January 13, 2015. As a member of the EEOC in 2018, Burrows urged Congress to pass the proposed Paycheck Fairness Act.{{Cite web|title=Meet the Woman Who Makes Sure Employers Behave|url=https://www.inhersight.com/blog/working-women/charlotte-burrows-makes-sure-employers-behave|access-date=2021-10-24|website=InHerSight.com|language=en}}

On January 20, 2021, Burrows was chosen by President Joe Biden to serve as chair of the EEOC, replacing Republican Janet Dhillon. During her tenure as chair, Burrows has indicated that pay equity will be a top priority of the agency.{{Cite web|title=Attorneys predict busy year for EEOC enforcement|url=https://www.hrdive.com/news/attorneys-predict-busy-year-for-eeoc-enforcement/607658/|access-date=2021-10-23|website=HR Dive|language=en-US}} Burrows has also indicated interest in strengthening agency guidances related to protecting caregivers.{{Cite web|title=Pandemic, Social Justice Movement Top of Mind for EEOC Chair|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/pandemic-social-justice-movement-top-of-mind-for-eeoc-chair|access-date=2021-10-24|website=news.bloomberglaw.com|language=en}}

As chair, Burrows issued guidelines stating that "employers may not deny an employee equal access to a bathroom, locker room, or shower that corresponds to the employee’s gender identity."{{Cite web|title=Protections Against Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity {{!}} U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission|url=https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/protections-against-employment-discrimination-based-sexual-orientation-or-gender|access-date=2021-10-24|website=www.eeoc.gov|date=15 June 2021 }} In order for the agency to operate more efficiently, Burrows has pushed for the hiring of 450 full-time EEOC employees.{{Cite web|title=EEOC Looks to Hire Hundreds of Full-Time Employees, Chair Says|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/eeoc-looks-to-hire-hundreds-of-full-time-employees-chair-says|access-date=2021-10-24|website=news.bloomberglaw.com|language=en}}

Donald Trump dismissed Burrows from the EEOC altogether on January 27, 2025.{{Cite news |last=Hsu |first=Andrea |date=2025-01-28 |title=Trump fires EEOC and labor board officials, setting up legal fight |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/28/nx-s1-5277103/nlrb-trump-wilcox-abruzzo-democrats-labor |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=NPR |language=en}} No president has ever fired an EEOC commissioner,{{Cite news |title= |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/eeoc-commissioner-fired-by-trump-hires-lawyers-kavanaugh-accuser-2025-01-29/}} yet Trump fired Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels simultaneously.

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Category:21st-century American women lawyers

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Category:Princeton University alumni

Category:Yale Law School alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:People associated with Debevoise & Plimpton