Bork Says He Quit Club That Barred Women

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork disclosed Monday that he belonged until October, 1985, to a private club that barred women as members and he has hired few women and no blacks or other minority members for his staff since he became a federal judge in 1982.

He reported also that neither President Reagan nor anyone involved in selecting him for the high court had sought to determine his position on any cases or issues that could come before the court. In addition, Bork estimated his net worth to be almost $1 million.

Bork was responding to a questionnaire prepared by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will open confirmation hearings on his nomination on Sept. 15. The committee released the questionnaire and Bork’s responses Monday.

Backed Women as Members

Bork reported that he belonged to the all-male Century Assn. in New York City from 1976 until October, 1985. He said he had signed a petition calling for women to be admitted as members and resigned his membership “when I became aware that there was a dispute as to whether a club with an all-male membership was engaged in invidious discrimination.”

In hiring, Bork reported that, in the five years he has served on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, he has employed 18 law clerks and three secretaries.

Two law clerks and the three secretaries are women, but no staff members were blacks or members of other minorities. He said a third woman law clerk is about to join the staff.

He listed personal assets of almost $1.2 million and a net worth of $980,000--including a pension plan with a $500,000 fair market value and a house he valued at $569,000.

Current District of Columbia records list the house as being assessed at $619,000--a figure that would push his net worth over $1 million.

Bork listed liabilities of about $205,000, including a first mortgage of about $172,000 and an $80,000 home equity line of credit on which he reported owing about $33,000 as of July 31.

When asked by the committee whether anyone involved in the nominating process had tried to determine his position on particular issues, Bork responded:

“No one involved in the process of selecting me as a judicial nominee has discussed any case, legal issue or question in any way that could be interpreted as seeking any express or implied assurances concerning my position on such matters.”