Supreme Court Expected to Standardize Discrimination Claims for Majority Groups

The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to rule in favor of Marlean Ames, a straight white woman who claims she faced 'reverse discrimination' when she was passed over for a promotion at the Ohio Department of Youth Services in favor of less-qualified gay candidates. During oral arguments, the justices expressed a rare consensus against the 'background circumstances' rule, which requires majority-group plaintiffs to present additional evidence of discrimination compared to minority-group plaintiffs. This rule, upheld by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has been criticized as an unfair burden on those from majority groups. Ames contends that her demotion and the hiring of less qualified gay employees were discriminatory actions. The Supreme Court's decision could potentially standardize the evidentiary requirements across federal courts, aligning with previous rulings that prohibit discrimination against any group under the same standards. A ruling in Ames' favor could significantly impact future discrimination lawsuits involving majority group plaintiffs.