In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, will the Supreme Court rule that Marlean Ames must show "background circumstances to support the suspicion that the defendant is that unusual employer who discriminates against the majority" in her employment claims of discrimination based on sexual orientation and sex?
Closing Jul 01, 2025 07:01AM UTC
Ames sued her employer, the Ohio Department of Youth Services, after being demoted and fired from her job, claiming she was discriminated against because she is a heterosexual (Ogletree Deakins, JD Supra). The district court granted summary judgment for the department and the Sixth Circuit affirmed, stating that, under circuit precedent, Ames failed to show "background circumstances" that would justify a claim made by a member of a majority class (Sixth Circuit - Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, SCOTUSblog). The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision in its 2024 term, but if it does not, the question will close as "No." If the Court decides this case without addressing this question's particular issue of law, the question will close as "No."
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