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WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.
New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities.
The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide, potentially limiting the circumstances in which employers can be held liable for decisions when there is no evidence of intentional discrimination against minorities.
In another case, the Supreme Court is intervening in a child custody dispute between a Texas mother and a British father that tests the boundaries of an international treaty.
The court agreed Monday to take its first look at how American authorities handle the Hague Convention on child abduction, aimed at preventing one parent from taking children to other countries without the other's permission.
Adding to the case's interest, the Obama administration joined the call for court review by approvingly citing a dissenting appeals court opinion by Ms. Sotomayor in a similar case. If confirmed, Ms. Sotomayor would sit on the court that hears the case next term.
The U.S. is among more than 80 countries that follow the treaty.
So basically the court ruled that the city doesn't have to follow the law as written.
Strange ruling, imo.
Court Rules for White Firefighters - WSJ.com
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.
New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities.
The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide, potentially limiting the circumstances in which employers can be held liable for decisions when there is no evidence of intentional discrimination against minorities.
In another case, the Supreme Court is intervening in a child custody dispute between a Texas mother and a British father that tests the boundaries of an international treaty.
The court agreed Monday to take its first look at how American authorities handle the Hague Convention on child abduction, aimed at preventing one parent from taking children to other countries without the other's permission.
Adding to the case's interest, the Obama administration joined the call for court review by approvingly citing a dissenting appeals court opinion by Ms. Sotomayor in a similar case. If confirmed, Ms. Sotomayor would sit on the court that hears the case next term.
The U.S. is among more than 80 countries that follow the treaty.
PS sorry I didn't catch the typo in the title. the edit function won't let me fix it.
Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
I suppose four of those on SCOTUS are racists.Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
Court Rules for White Firefighters - WSJ.com
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.
New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities.
The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide, potentially limiting the circumstances in which employers can be held liable for decisions when there is no evidence of intentional discrimination against minorities.
In another case, the Supreme Court is intervening in a child custody dispute between a Texas mother and a British father that tests the boundaries of an international treaty.
The court agreed Monday to take its first look at how American authorities handle the Hague Convention on child abduction, aimed at preventing one parent from taking children to other countries without the other's permission.
Adding to the case's interest, the Obama administration joined the call for court review by approvingly citing a dissenting appeals court opinion by Ms. Sotomayor in a similar case. If confirmed, Ms. Sotomayor would sit on the court that hears the case next term.
The U.S. is among more than 80 countries that follow the treaty.
PS sorry I didn't catch the typo in the title. the edit function won't let me fix it.
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a group of white firefighters in Connecticut were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision endorsed by high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
In the high-profile, controversial case, white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., argued they were discriminated against when the city tossed out the results of a promotion exam because too few minorities scored high enough on it.
Justice Anthony Kennedy authored the opinion in favor of Frank Ricci and his fellow firefighters who sued the city of New Haven.
"The city's action in discarding the tests violated (federal law)," the Supreme Court majority wrote Monday, adding that the city's "race-based rejection of the test results" could not be justified.
The city argued its action was prompted by concern that disgruntled African American firefighters would sue. But that reasoning didn't hold sway with the court's majority.
"Fear of litigation alone cannot justify the city's reliance of race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions," the court ruled.
Twenty firefighters 19 white and one Hispanic who were denied promotions in New Haven, Conn., claimed city officials discriminated against them because they were more concerned about potential complaints of Civil Rights Act violations than their performance on advancement exams.
The white firefighters argued discrimination is discrimination no matter what color it takes, and therefore, the city did violate the Civil Rights Act in not promoting the white and one Hispanic firefighters.
Sotomayor was one of three appeals court judges who earlier ruled that New Haven officials acted properly.
The reversal could be used as ammunition by some senators who don't want to see Sotomayor confirmed.
Court Rules for White Firefighters in Discrimination Case - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com
To give minorities special treatment for being minorities is quite disgusting. I have never, EVER agreed with affirmative action. Everyone talks about the starting point for black people being well behind that of white people... well there are pieces of white trash out there with absolutely no potential whatsoever and there are rich black people out there as well. If the black community would stop spending so much time saying "We're black - you have to give us special treatment because we're black" and start saying "We're black, we should be treated equally and we are going to work just as hard as white people and we're going to create our own opportunities just like white people do." They need to stop this whole "entitlement" attitude and start working on themselves and providing for themselves as a community. There's nothing wrong with having cultural pride, but I find the way that many, not all, but many people in the black community walk around and think the world owes them because of how their ancestors were treated is absolute shit.
If I run a private corporation and it's my business and I only want to hire white Jews, it's my perogative. The government should not tell me who I can and cannot hire. BUT - if I fire someone because of their race... then, well that's a different story.
Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
Court Rules for White Firefighters - WSJ.com
PS sorry I didn't catch the typo in the title. the edit function won't let me fix it.
Keep saying that. Maybe you can get Latino support for Republicans even lower than it is now. It'll be hard, but you might be able too.
Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
Keep saying that. Maybe you can get Latino support for Republicans even lower than it is now. It'll be hard, but you might be able too.
As if I give a flying fuck about the Repudlicans.
If latinos don't like the fact that a truly just decision was made, fuck them.
Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
Nope just leftist morons!
A ruling like this is why I love Thomas! The man puts his race and everything to side and rules on what is in the constitution! He is a true patriot. He learned from the teaching of Martin Luther King, "Will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character!"
I guess Thomas learned, but Sotomayor didn't!
Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
Court Rules for White Firefighters - WSJ.com
PS sorry I didn't catch the typo in the title. the edit function won't let me fix it.
Keep saying that. Maybe you can get Latino support for Republicans even lower than it is now. It'll be hard, but you might be able too.
I highly doubt this is over. And DavidS, you obviously have no idea what the case was about.
do you think they'll appeal it to the ghost of learned hand?
Sotomayor majority over-ruling slips even further. Can how can this racist be allowed on the Supreme Court?
Keep saying that. Maybe you can get Latino support for Republicans even lower than it is now. It'll be hard, but you might be able too.
Bingo! Why do you think Obama picked her? He, or more like Axelrod, is a crafty politician! He realizes that he could pick a controversial Latino to the bench, who would side with the liberals (his position), then have the right (specifically House and Senate members) come out and speak the true, that she is a racist (not the kind in the mold of the KKK, but the kind in which she uses her power and allows it to influence her decisions).
Obama is eyeing 2010. He sees a supermajority in the house, senate and state governorships within his sites! How does he get there: (1) Turns the economy around and pulls even people on the right to D (Hey if the economy turns by Dec, I will probably go D in 2010) or (2) Get more Latinos on board (Using Sotomayor is a good pawn!)
I highly doubt this is over. And DavidS, you obviously have no idea what the case was about.
do you think they'll appeal it to the ghost of learned hand?
No. But its entirely possible for the black firefighters now to sue.
