October Term 2008 · Docket 07-1428
Can a city discard valid test results to avoid a disparate impact claim?
Firefighters challenge a city decision to discard valid promotion tests to avoid a disparate impact claim.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Coleman argued racial classifications are inherently pernicious.
Mr. Kneedler argued Title VII prohibits discriminatory operations.
Mr. Meade argued employers must comply with disparate impact provisions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The city argues it acted to avoid a disparate impact claim. The firefighters argue the city violated their rights by discarding valid results.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 22, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-23
What each side wants
The city wants to keep the discarded test results.
The firefighters want the court to restore their promotions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-9
What each side says
The city argues it avoided a disparate impact claim.
The firefighters argue the city violated their equal protection rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-9
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the city's choice had a constitutional deficiency.
Justice Stevens asked if the decision was undisputedly race-based.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-37
Why it matters
This case defines when employers can discard valid test results. It balances disparate impact risks against individual rights. The outcome shapes future hiring and promotion practices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-9
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-37
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-9
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.