Newsom Deems Caste Bias Already Illegal, But Case Law Is Scarce

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto of a bill banning caste discrimination leaves open the unsettled question over whether state and federal law already cover bias based on social hierarchy.

When Newsom (D) killed the bill (SB 403) Oct. 7 that would have made California the first state to explicitly outlaw caste discrimination, he said it was unnecessary because caste is already covered by other protected categories listed in the state’s anti-bias laws.

Case law on the issue is limited and so clarification by state and federal lawmakers would be helpful, some attorneys and law professors say, even though they ...