Judge: Feds may join bias lawsuit by NEO female guards

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A judge will allow the federal government to back female jail guards in their job discrimination lawsuit in northeast Ohio.

The women say they are effectively being demoted because Summit County officials in Akron don’t want them guarding male inmates while showering or being strip searched.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kathleen Burke agreed today to let Washington weigh in on behalf of the guards. The government says the case is a matter of important public interest.

The women claim the policy limits job options because they are mostly assigned to overseeing female inmates. Eighty-two percent of inmates and 80 percent of deputies are male.

There was no immediate comment from the prosecutor representing the jail in court. The jail commander said earlier that pay, benefits and promotions won’t be affected.