Supreme Court Allows Ohio Woman’s Discrimination Suit to Proceed

On Thursday, June 5th, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that an Ohio woman’s workplace discrimination lawsuit can continue. The Court rejected a lower court’s requirement that majority-group plaintiffs provide extra evidence to prove discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Marlean Ames filed the lawsuit in 2020, claiming she was passed over for a promotion and later demoted in favor of less qualified colleagues, including a gay man. She argued these actions were motivated by discrimination against her as a heterosexual woman. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals had dismissed her case, saying she failed to show the special “background circumstances” required of majority-group plaintiffs. The Supreme Court unanimously overturned this decision.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote for the Court, clarifying that Title VII does not differentiate between majority and minority plaintiffs. She stated that courts cannot impose extra proof requirements on majority group members. The Court sent the case back to lower courts for further review without resolving the factual dispute.

Ohio’s attorneys argued Ames’ demotion resulted from restructuring and performance issues, not discrimination. The Supreme Court did not address these claims but instructed lower courts to consider them on remand.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch agreed with the ruling but criticized the lower court’s use of “atextual” legal standards in a separate opinion. Legal groups supporting equal treatment hailed the decision, while some civil rights organizations warned it could open the door to reverse discrimination lawsuits.

Ames’ case will now continue in federal district court for further proceedings.