Justices Pass on Case Challenging Decades-Old Job Bias Test (1)

The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to review a Christian fire chief’s employment discrimination lawsuit, which would have given the court a chance to clarify or jettison its 52-year-old proof scheme for assessing job bias claims.

Former Stockton, Calif., fire chief Ronald Hittle said his firing was motivated by anti-Christian discrimination after he attended a church-sponsored global summit on leadership. He pointed to comments by city management asking if he was part of a “Christian coalition” and similar remarks.

Hittle sought review, arguing that a divided Ninth Circuit panel misapplied the high court’s 1973 burden shifting-test in McDonnell ...