New Haven, Conn., firefighters who won discrimination case at Supreme Court seek promotions

Conn. firefighters in bias case seek promotions

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — White New Haven firefighters are seeking promotions after winning their discrimination lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Twenty firefighters, who include one Hispanic, sued New Haven after the city threw out results of a 2003 promotion exam for lieutenants and captains when too few minorities did well. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the firefighters in June.

The firefighters’ attorney filed papers in U.S. District Court on Friday asking that 14 firefighters be promoted.

Attorneys for New Haven are proposing that the eligibility lists for promotion be based on the 2003 exams.

The case became an issue in confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (SOHN’-ya soh-toh-my-YOR’). She ruled against the firefighters when she was a federal appeals court judge.