What did the Supreme Court rule in Ricci v. DeStefano regarding race-conscious hiring decisions?

In the case of Ricci v. DeStefano, the Supreme Court ruled that employers must demonstrate a strong basis in evidence for making race-conscious hiring decisions. This ruling stemmed from a situation where a fire department in New Haven, Connecticut, discarded the results of a promotional exam because the outcomes would have had a disparate impact on minority candidates. The Court determined that the city's decision violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act because the city could not provide sufficient evidence that the exam was discriminatory or that the adverse impact was justified.

This ruling emphasizes that while employers can consider race in their hiring and promotion strategies, they must adhere to strict scrutiny standards. This means they need compelling justification backed by substantial evidence to support any race-based decisions intended to address discrimination. Essentially, the Court affirmed that Title VII does allow for race-conscious policies, but only when they are needed to prevent discrimination and are supported by strong evidence. This upholds the balance between combating discrimination and preserving individual rights regarding employment decisions.