The U.S. Supreme Court has made a significant ruling that could change how workplace discrimination cases are handled, especially for those from majority backgrounds. In a unanimous decision, the Court revived a lawsuit from Marlean Ames, a woman from Ohio who claims she faced discrimination at her job because she is heterosexual.
Ames worked for Ohio’s Department of Youth Services and alleged that she was denied a promotion and demoted in favor of two gay colleagues. She argued that her supervisor, who is gay, favored others over her despite her qualifications. The Supreme Court ruled 9-0, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson writing the opinion, which emphasized that all individuals should have equal protection under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, regardless of their background.
Previously, some courts, including the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, required plaintiffs from majority groups to show "background circumstances" to prove discrimination. This meant they had to demonstrate that the employer was an “unusual” one that discriminated against the majority. The Supreme Court’s ruling means this extra burden is no longer necessary.
Jackson pointed out that Title VII does not allow for different standards based on whether someone belongs to a majority or minority group. This decision is likely to impact how future cases are assessed, particularly in areas where courts have upheld these stricter requirements.
Ames filed her lawsuit in 2020, seeking damages after feeling sidelined by her department’s employment decisions. Following the ruling, her attorney expressed relief and happiness that the court recognized the validity of her claims. Ohio’s Attorney General defended the department’s actions, stating that they were part of a restructuring process and that Ames lacked the necessary leadership skills for the role she wanted.
The ruling comes amid a broader conversation about workplace diversity policies in the U.S. There has been a push from some conservative groups to challenge these policies, and they welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. However, civil rights organizations warned that this ruling could overlook the ongoing discrimination faced by minority groups.
As the case moves forward, the Ohio Department of Youth Services will have the chance to present its arguments against Ames’s claims, but the Supreme Court’s ruling has already set a new precedent for how discrimination cases may be approached in the future.