Connecticut gets a rare day in the spotlight at the U.S. Supreme Court later this month when the case of Ricci v. DeStefano comes before the court for oral argument.
At issue for the court:
Whether municipalities may decline to certify results of an exam that would make disproportionately more white applicants eligible for promotion than minority applicants, due to fears that certifying the results would lead to charges of racial discrimination.
Several New Haven, Connecticut firefighters allege reverse discrimination when the city denied them promotions despite high test scores, ostensibly out of fears that the test may have discriminated against minority applicants. I’ve covered the case here previously.
However, what’s fascinating about the case is not necessarily the parties’ briefs (which you can find here and here) but some of the briefs filed by other grounds, such as the NAACP or the ADL either in support of a party or to simply provide the court with additional guidance. In all, there are over 20 amicus briefs that have been filed.
And what does the U.S. Government suggest? Essentially, throwing the result at the Second Circuit out and sending the case back down to the District Court for further findings. But it also suggests that it sides with the city’s position.
Cases from Connecticut are rare at the U.S. Supreme Court (the last big high-profile case was the Kelo v. New London). A decision is expected before the end of the term in June.