Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services
Holding
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit’s “background circumstances” rule — which requires members of a majority group to satisfy a heightened evidentiary standard to prevail on a Title VII discrimination claim — cannot be squared with either the text of Title VII or the Supreme Court’s precedents.
Judgment
Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Ketanji Brown Jackson on Jun 5, 2025. Justice Thomas filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Gorsuch joined.
Feb 22, 2024Application (23A777) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 3, 2024 to March 18, 2024, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.
Feb 26, 2024Application (23A777) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until March 18, 2024.
Mar 18, 2024Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 19, 2024)Mar 22, 2024Waiver of right of respondent Ohio Department of Youth Services to respond filed.Mar 27, 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/12/2024.
Apr 3, 2024Response Requested. (Due May 3, 2024)
Apr 3, 2024Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 3, 2024 to June 3, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.Apr 4, 2024Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 3, 2024.
May 31, 2024Brief of respondent Ohio Department of Youth Services in opposition filed.Jun 3, 2024Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.Jun 4, 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/20/2024.
Jun 4, 2024Reply of petitioner Marlean A. Ames filed. (Distributed)Jun 20, 2024Rescheduled.
Sep 23, 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/30/2024.
Oct 4, 2024Petition GRANTED.
Oct 25, 2024Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.Oct 31, 2024Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including December 9, 2024. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 17, 2025. Petitioner will file the reply brief on the merits on or before February 7, 2025.
Nov 22, 2024SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
Nov 27, 2024Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Dec 6, 2024Record received electronically from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and available with the Clerk.
Dec 9, 2024Brief of petitioner Marlean A. Ames filed.Dec 9, 2024Joint appendix (2 volumes) filed. (Statement of costs filed)Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of United States in support of vacatur filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amici curiae of Professors Katie Eyer, et al. filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of The National Employment of Lawyers Association filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Equal Protection Project filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of American Alliance for Equal Rights filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of Josh Young filed.Dec 16, 2024Brief amicus curiae of America First Legal Foundation filed.Jan 10, 2025Motion for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed by The National Employment Lawyers Association.Jan 13, 2025CIRCULATED
Jan 16, 2025Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.Jan 17, 2025Brief of respondent Ohio Department of Youth Services filed. (Distributed)Jan 22, 2025Brief amici curiae of Local Government Legal Center, et al. filed. (Distributed)Jan 24, 2025Brief amici curiae of NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund filed. (Distributed)Feb 7, 2025Reply of petitioner Marlean A. Ames filed. (Distributed)Feb 12, 2025Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Feb 12, 2025Motion of the National Employment Lawyers Association for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument DENIED.
Feb 26, 2025Argued. For petitioner: Xiao Wang, Charlottesville, Va.; and Ashley Robertson, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondent: T. Elliot Gaiser, Solicitor General, Columbus, Ohio.
Jun 5, 2025Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Jackson, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Gorsuch, J., joined.
Jul 7, 2025Judgment Issued.Recommended Citation: Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/ames-v-ohio-department-of-youth-services/