More than one important decision from the Supreme Court today that's worth noting → pic.twitter.com/WPuh8y8cZC
— Josh Earnest (@PressSec) June 25, 2015
This morning, the Supreme Court ruled to preserve a critical tool that helps prevent housing discrimination.
In a 5-4 vote, the Court ruled that disparate-impact claims can be filed under the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Under the disparate-impact doctrine, a policy can be considered discriminatory if it has a disproportionately adverse impact against any group of people, based on race, national origin, color, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.
As Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) was created to eliminate discriminatory housing practices, such as "zoning laws and other housing restrictions that function unfairly to exclude minorities from certain neighborhoods" without sufficient justification.
"Recognition of disparate-impact claims," he added, "is consistent with the FHA's central purpose."
