Plaintiff Wins Unanimous Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court Justices

The Supreme Court has ruled that Marlean Ames may proceed with her discrimination complaint against the Ohio Department of Youth Services. The court determined that she does not need to meet a higher burden of proof when alleging discrimination. Ames claimed she was denied a promotion in favor of a less qualified lesbian candidate.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Ames previously stated, "Little did I know at the time that I filed that my burden was going to be harsher than somebody else's burden to prove my case. I want people to try and understand that we're trying to make this a level playing field for everyone. Not just for a white woman in Ohio."

Associate Justice Elena Kagan

In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the court found that the dismissal of Ames’ case by two lower courts was unwarranted. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that Ames, as a straight woman, needed additional “background circumstances” to support her claims.

Brown Jackson appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee

Solicitor General T. Elliot Gaiser clarified during oral arguments that the state of Ohio was not defending the reasoning. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, and religion, without distinction.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Jackson said, "Congress left no room for courts to impose special requirements on majority-group plaintiffs alone."

Jackson before former President Biden delivers the State of the Union address

Jackson added, “As a textual matter, Title VII’s disparate-treatment provision draws no distinctions between majority-group plaintiffs and minority-group plaintiffs. Congress left no room for courts to impose special requirements on majority-group plaintiffs alone.”

Clarence Thomas looks on inauguration ceremonies

Justice Clarence Thomas supported the majority opinion while urging caution against creating atextual legal frameworks.

New modern holding cells for prisoners

The department stated that Ames’ demotion was part of an initiative to revamp its team to reduce sexual violence within the juvenile system. Ames previously led efforts to prevent rape in prison.

John Baker covers U.S. politics & news for content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.