23 percent of respondents in a South Dakota State Bar survey say they’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted on the job. Many say they never reported it.
Now a state Supreme Court Commission is studying the problem. Justice Mark Salter says a new approach is needed.
“Part of the difficulty was training that addressed, and was directed to the harassers, seemed to not be effective. But this idea that preventing, addressing and resolving sexual harassment complaints is a collective responsibility. It's not isolated to a harasser who needs to do better. And it's certainly not isolating somebody who's the object of sexual harassment to figure out a resolution.”
Training is currently not required for members of the State Bar. The Supreme Court commission recommends mandatory training for lawyers, judges and other court employees.