Many conservatives will be glad to hear the decision by the Supreme Court today to overturn a lower court’s ruling in the case of Ricci v. DeStefano. In the case, qualified white firefighters in New Haven, Connecticut were denied promotions because there were not enough minorities to be promoted at the same time. The earlier decision against the white firefighters came from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, where Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor currently sits.
The ruling is not terribly surprising considering the composition of the court, and it was a close 5-4 decision. But this offers another talking point to conservatives wanting to halt the proceedings to confirm Sotomayor. It was noted in the opinion of Justice Anthony Kennedy that the lower courts opinion was surprisingly short.
Oral arguments lasted an hour, with Sotomayor leading the questioning, as is her reputation. But instead of issuing a detailed and signed opinion, the panel said in a brief summary that, although it was “not unsympathetic” to the plight of the white firefighters, it unanimously affirmed the lower court’s decision for “reasons stated in the thorough, thoughtful, and well-reasoned opinion.”
The case is a lightning-rod issue for conservatives, who argue that qualified firefighters should be promoted regardless of race. Republicans will continue to raise this issue in the weeks ahead.
It’s looking more and more as though Senate Republicans will offer some opposition to Obama’s first Supreme Court nominee. The Ricci case is a stronger talking point now that the Supreme Court has overturned Sotomayor’s decision.
Update: Meanwhile, 62% Say They Support Sotomayor.