The city of New Haven, Connecticut, violated the civil rights of white firefighters by throwing out the results of a promotion test, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday.

The city discarded the test because minority firefighters didn't fare as well. By a 5-4 vote, the justices said the action violated the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits intentional acts of employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

"This decision will change the landscape of civil rights law," law professor Sheila Foster told The New York Times.

The decision reversed the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a Supreme Court nominee, had ruled in favor of the city.

Get the Story:
Justices Rule for White Firemen In Bias Lawsuit (The Washington Post 6/30)
Supreme Court Finds Bias Against White Firefighters (The New York Times 6/30)
Ruling Offers Little Guidance on Fair Hiring (The New York Times 6/30)

Ricci v. DeStefano:
Syllabus | Opinion [Kennedy] | Concurrence [Scalia] | Concurrence [Alito] | Dissent [Ginsburg]