The Supreme Court just handed a victory to common sense, tossing out a lower court’s woke hurdle for Marlean Ames’s reverse discrimination lawsuit. For 15 years, Ames served Ohio’s Department of Youth Services, only to face demotion and rejection under questionable circumstances. Her case exposes the absurdity of courts demanding extra proof when straight employees cry foul.
On Thursday, the high court justices unanimously sent Ames’s case back to lower courts, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson penning the decision, as scotusblog.com reports. The ruling slapped down the 6th Circuit’s bizarre requirement for “background circumstances” to prove discrimination against the majority. It’s a rare moment in which fairness trumps identity politics.
Ames’s saga began in 2004 as an executive secretary, later climbing to program administrator. Her 2018 evaluation, under a new gay supervisor, glowed with praise, meeting expectations in 10 categories, exceeding in one. Yet, by 2019, her career took a nosedive.
In 2019, Ames applied for a promotion within the department but was snubbed. A lesbian got the job instead. The rejection stung, but the real gut-punch came when Ames was demoted to a prior role, her pay slashed to just over half.
To add insult to injury, a gay man replaced her in her old position. Ames, straight and sidelined, smelled discrimination and sued in federal court. Her claim: the department targeted her sexual orientation.
The 6th Circuit in Cincinnati, however, wasn’t buying it. They demanded that Ames prove “background circumstances” -- like a minority decision-maker or a pattern of anti-majority bias. Since the officials involved were straight, her case got the boot.
Enter the Supreme Court, which called out the 6th Circuit’s overreach in its nine-page ruling. Justice Jackson wrote that plaintiffs need only show evidence suggesting intentional discrimination, not some extra hurdle for majority groups. The “background circumstances” rule, she said, “flouts that basic principle.”
Jackson’s opinion cuts through the fog: “Congress left no room for courts to impose special requirements on majority-group plaintiffs alone.” This isn’t about coddling the majority—it’s about equal rules for all. The woke double standard just took a hit.
Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Neil Gorsuch, went further in a concurring opinion. He called the cited McDonnell Douglas framework -- a three-step test for discrimination claims -- legally baseless and a judicial mess. Thomas’s quip that it “lacks any basis” in law is a polite way of saying it’s bureaucratic nonsense.
The Supreme Court’s ruling revives Ames’s claim, sending it back for a fair shake. Lower courts must now apply the proper standard, without the 6th Circuit’s invented obstacles. Ames’ fight is far from over, but she now has a lifeline.
Federal law bans workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Sexual orientation, though not explicitly listed, falls under this umbrella thanks to prior rulings. Ames’ case tests whether straight workers can claim the same protections as minorities do.
The 6th Circuit’s misstep was requiring Ames to prove the department was that “unusual employer” who discriminates against the majority, as Jackson put it. That’s not just unfair -- it’s a judicial thumb on the scale. The Court’s correction is a win for clarity.
Ames’ lawsuit isn’t about vilifying anyone -- it’s about accountability. If a gay supervisor or minority colleagues got preferential treatment, that’s as wrong as any other bias. The law doesn’t pick favorites, and neither should courts.
Jackson’s ruling reminds us that discrimination laws protect “every individual,” not just select groups. Her words are a rebuke to those who think only minorities can be victims. It’s a refreshing dose of reality in an era obsessed with identity.
As Ames’ case heads back to lower courts, the spotlight’s on whether Ohio’s Department of Youth Services played fair. The justices have set the stage for a proper review, free from woke judicial gymnastics. Here’s hoping Ames gets the justice she is seeking.
