DeletedUser
this was a story on my local news the other day
Supreme Court hears NH
firefighter case
Updated: Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009, 7:17 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009, 5:34 AM EDT
New Haven (AP) - A case involving 20 New Haven firefighters went before the U.S. Supreme Court today. The reverse discrimination lawsuit claims that the city of New Haven scrapped a promotion exam because too few minorities passed the test.
The New Haven 20 claim that their civil rights were violated when the city threw out the test results.
The city says if they had gone ahead with the promotions based on the test results, they would have risked a lawsuit because the exams had a "disparate impact" on minorities in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The plaintiff's lawyer, Karen Torre, disagrees saying, "The only thing wrong with this test was it did not suit the political agenda of New Haven's mayor."
Outside court following the arguments, the lead plaintiff, Frank Ricci, said little.
"The only thing I'll say at this time is I speak for all of us. We're happy to have our day in court," he said.
Minority groups across the nation support the city's decision to throw out the tests results and were also on hand to see how the justices weighed the case.
It is important for this court to stand where the nation is today, where this nation is on a path to meaningful, equal participation," said Marc Morial, Pres., National Urban League.
The court's conservative judges seemed to side with the white firefighters. "You had some applicants who were winners and their promotion was set aside," Justice Antonin Scalia said.
Justice David Souter said a ruling against the city could leave employers in a "damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation."
The federal appeals court in New York upheld a lower court ruling dismissing the lawsuit.
if you would like a link here it is http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/news_w...hears_new_haven_firefighter_case_200904220533
Supreme Court hears NH
firefighter case
Updated: Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009, 7:17 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 22 Apr 2009, 5:34 AM EDT
New Haven (AP) - A case involving 20 New Haven firefighters went before the U.S. Supreme Court today. The reverse discrimination lawsuit claims that the city of New Haven scrapped a promotion exam because too few minorities passed the test.
The New Haven 20 claim that their civil rights were violated when the city threw out the test results.
The city says if they had gone ahead with the promotions based on the test results, they would have risked a lawsuit because the exams had a "disparate impact" on minorities in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The plaintiff's lawyer, Karen Torre, disagrees saying, "The only thing wrong with this test was it did not suit the political agenda of New Haven's mayor."
Outside court following the arguments, the lead plaintiff, Frank Ricci, said little.
"The only thing I'll say at this time is I speak for all of us. We're happy to have our day in court," he said.
Minority groups across the nation support the city's decision to throw out the tests results and were also on hand to see how the justices weighed the case.
It is important for this court to stand where the nation is today, where this nation is on a path to meaningful, equal participation," said Marc Morial, Pres., National Urban League.
The court's conservative judges seemed to side with the white firefighters. "You had some applicants who were winners and their promotion was set aside," Justice Antonin Scalia said.
Justice David Souter said a ruling against the city could leave employers in a "damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation."
The federal appeals court in New York upheld a lower court ruling dismissing the lawsuit.
if you would like a link here it is http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/news_w...hears_new_haven_firefighter_case_200904220533
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