SCOTUS Rules For White New Haven Firefighters

In ruling in favor of the white firefighters, the high court went against a decision by nominee Sonia Sotomayor, something sure to be underscored by her detractors.

New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans (such as Gary Tinney, r) 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 court was divided along ideological lines and, in dissent, Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote that the white firefighters “understandably attract this court’s sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them.”  Justices Bryer, Souter and Stevens signed on to the Ginsburg dissent.

It’s important to note, when conservatives try to use the Supreme Court reversal to argue against her joining the court, that she is not being nominated to agree with the conservative majority.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.