Judges weigh HIV-infected man’s fight to get job


January 25, 2012 at 1:00p.m.

Judges weigh HIV-infected man’s fight to get job

ATLANTA (AP) — A panel of federal judges seems skeptical of the Atlanta police department’s decision to reject a job application from an HIV-infected man.

The 40-year-old man sued the city in 2010, claiming he was denied a police officer job solely because he has the virus. Atlanta attorneys told the three judges today that there are other officers on the force with HIV. They say the department has no blanket policy disqualifying candidates with the virus.

Circuit Judge R. Lanier Anderson signaled the lawsuit would likely be sent back to a lower judge when he said he didn’t “see how we can avoid a remand in this case.”

Gay rights groups and police agencies are closely following the case. The judges will issue a ruling later.