Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 10, 1995                   TAG: 9506290112
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

JUDGE OKS SETTLEMENT IN CIA SEX BIAS CASE

U.S. District Judge Albert Bryan Jr. rejected appeals by some of the plaintiffs, all women, that the $1 million to be paid by the agency was inadequate. In his ruling the judge spared the CIA the embarrassment of having allegations against it laid bare in open court.

The spy agency was accused of widespread sexual bias and harassment in its clandestine operations unit.

Nine of the 10 CIA employees who had taken the lead in threatening a class-action lawsuit had urged the court to overturn the settlement reached in March. They contended that the agreement left in place many of the personnel policies that had allowed rampant sexism in the operations unit, which conducts overseas espionage.

The nine women also said that the lawyers who negotiated the original settlement, including the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, had been intimidated by government lawyers.

But after hearing several hours of statements from witnesses, including female agents who testified in a closed session to protect their identities, Bryan ruled that the settlement was ``fair and adequate.''

The judge also warned the CIA that he would monitor its adherence to a promise to eliminate bias.

``The court is available and will be looking over the shoulder of these people,'' Bryan said.

In a written statement, CIA Director John Deutch said he was pleased with the ruling and announced additional steps to root out racism and sexism in the agency.

``People will be judged on the basis of performance, and everyone will be given an equal opportunity to advance," he said.