The US Supreme Court has ruled on the New Haven, Connecticut firefighters case by reversing the decision of the city government. The city had decided that since no non-white applicants scored well enough to be promoted the "test" would be thrown out and a new method of promotion would be created. White firefighters who did well enough on the "test" to be promoted to lieutenant or captain argued that they were in fact discriminated against: "reverse discrimination" they argued. The court agreed with the white firefighters. The decision however, "does not eliminate employers ability to take diversity into account in employment decisions". The ruling was 5 to 4. Interestingly, the appeals court case ruled in favor of the city and was supported by President Obama's choice to replace David Souter on the court: Sonia Sotomayor. Souter voted with the minority.
(Source: "Top court finds reverse bias" by the AP. The Record on June 30, 2009).
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