"…The court said the additional requirement is inconsistent with federal law and Supreme Court precedent, so it sent the case back for further litigation."

"…This decision did not expand the law. It honored it."

"…Together, they reveal the strategy emerging from the court’s liberals this term."

"…The left flank of the court eased the way for 'reverse discrimination' claims, expanded religious exemptions from state taxes, and shielded gun companies from a potentially ruinous lawsuit."

"…Background circumstances must show that the person or people outside the majority are engaged in an unusual pattern of discrimination against the majority."

"…This rule is not consistent with federal law."

"…A unanimous Supreme Court has made it easier to bring lawsuits over so-called reverse discrimination, siding with an Ohio woman who claims she didn’t get a job and then was demoted because she is straight."

"…The supreme court was willing to put this reasoning to a test, with an appetite to rethink what 'reverse discrimination' actually means."

"…The Supreme Court said in its ruling that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964... draws no distinctions between majority-group plaintiffs and minority-group plaintiffs."

"…The decision reverses a previous ruling by a lower court stating that plaintiffs from some majority groups must show 'background circumstances' to demonstrate that their employer is 'that unusual employer who discriminates against the majority'."

"…The ruling will make it easier to file such suits in some parts of the country."

"…The unanimous ruling could make it easier in some parts of the country for people belonging to majority groups to bring such 'reverse discrimination' claims."

"…The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Ames, and struck down that higher standard."

"…The Supreme Court said the "background circumstances rule" can't be squared with the text of the law or the court's previous rulings."

"…The ruling from the Supreme Court makes it easier to pursue claims of reverse discrimination in 20 states and the District of Columbia that are covered by federal courts of appeals that still applied the standard."

"…The Supreme Court’s latest workplace discrimination ruling could have major repercussions for employers and lead to a wave of new lawsuits."

"…The justices’ decision affects lawsuits in 20 states and the District of Columbia where, until now, courts had set a higher bar when members of a majority group, including those who are white and heterosexual, sue for discrimination under federal law."

"…The court concluded that anti-discrimination and equal protection laws were meant to apply to all Americans."

"…Ames subsequently filed this lawsuit against the agency under Title VII, alleging that she was denied the management promotion and demoted because of her sexual orientation."

"…The justices vacated the lower court’s previous ruling and sent Ames’ case back for a new decision."

"…The justices’ decision affects lawsuits in 20 states and the District of Columbia where, until now, courts had set a higher bar when members of a majority group, including those who are white and heterosexual, sue for discrimination under federal law."

"…The Supreme Court ruled in Marlean Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services that a lower court decision against Ames is to be reconsidered."

"…The ruling strikes down the Sixth Circuit Court's 'background circumstances' rule, which had required majority groups in protected classes to show special evidence of discrimination."

"…The unanimous decision remanded the discrimination case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit for further proceedings without the higher standard implemented against Ames."

"…The Supreme Court rejected this approach, emphasizing that Title VII’s protections apply equally to all individuals and that courts should not impose additional burdens on majority-group plaintiffs."

"…The unanimous ruling puts an end to a standard used in 20 states and the District of Columbia that imposed a higher burden of proof on white, male, and straight individuals who claimed to be the victims of discrimination on the basis of those identities."

"…The Supreme Court ruling invalidates a standard set by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that nonminorities must provide more evidence of discrimination than a member of a minority group."

"…The justices' decision affects lawsuits in 20 states and the District of Columbia where, until now, courts had set a higher bar when members of a majority group, including those who are white and heterosexual, sue for discrimination under federal law."

"…The Supreme Court has recognized that Title VII nondiscrimination protections apply equally to majority group individuals, a precedent set by the 2009 case Ricci v. DeStefano, where the justices ruled that discriminatory effects resulting from diversity efforts are illegal."

"…The Supreme Court’s case law makes clear that the standard for proving disparate treatment under Title VII does not vary based on whether or not the plaintiff is a member of a majority group."