Labor & Employment Law

Supreme Court transcript in employment discrimination case

Today the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Ricci v. DeStefano [details, briefs].

The official transcript of the oral argument is here.

The New Haven, Connecticut fire department administered civil service tests for applicants for positions as captain and lieutenant. The examination resulted in disproportionately higher scores for white applicants than for minority applicants. The department decided not to implement the exam results for fear that doing so would put them in violation of Title VII. Therefore, positions remained unfilled.

A group of white and Hispanic applicants sued claiming a violation of Title VII and of the equal protection clause. The trial court granted summary judgment for the defendants, and the 2nd Circuit affirmed. The US Supreme Court granted certiorari to review the 2nd Circuit judgment, and heard oral arguments on April 22.

Full post as published by Ross' Employment Law Blog on April 22, 2009 (boomark / email).