The New Haven, Conn., fireman, who's white, was passed over for promotion despite outscoring other applicants, including African-American and Hispanic candidates. On Wednesday, the court led by conservative Chief Justice John G. Roberts, must determine whether Ricci's race impermissibly cost him an officer's badge. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
This is one more episode in ongoing lawsuits over 'affirmative action'. What the article attempts to do is combine a personal story (a) with a legal one (b). Here's this poor guy who worked like crazy on the exam (a) only to have the appointing authority not use it (b). What it doesn't make clear is what the appointing authority is going to do now about filling command level vacancies in its fire department. The next lawsuit will probably be from people temporarily serving in these slots who may not make it through the next exam - remember the exam was in 2000! Further note, several days later - I heard a discussion of this case this evening. The article didn't mention the major legal issues - two apparently contradictory parts of laws relating to discrimination. The result was that I oversimplified. See the McNeill Lehrer news segment tonight (4/22)
This kind of thing is going to go on and on and on and on and on....