Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court clarified in the case of Ames v. Ohio Dept. of Youth Services, that “the standard for proving disparate treatment under Title VII does not vary based on whether or not the plaintiff is a member of a majority group.” By unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which applied a standard of proof that required workers in a “majority group” to meet a more rigorous burden than others who have historically faced discrimination. By removing these extra hurdles, the Supreme Court made it easier for employees who are in the majority (i.e., white men and women and heterosexuals) to prove “reverse” discrimination claims.
