White firefighters win Supreme Court appeal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled today that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.

The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide and make it harder to prove discrimination when there is no evidence it was intentional.

New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no black Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities.

The ruling could give Sotomayor’s critics fresh ammunition two weeks before her Senate confirmation hearing. Conservatives say it shows she is a judicial activist who lets her own feelings color her decisions.

On the other hand, liberal allies say her stance in the case demonstrates her restraint and unwillingness to go beyond established precedents.