136
Syllabus
him. It instructed the jury that, to show respondent's explanation was pretextual, Reeves had to demonstrate that age discrimination, not respondent's explanation, was the real reason for his discharge. Given that Reeves established a prima facie case, introduced enough evidence for the jury to reject respondent's explanation, and produced additional evidence that Chesnut was motivated by age-based animus and was principally responsible for Reeves' firing, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to conclude that respondent had intentionally discriminated. Pp. 151-154.
197 F. 3d 688, reversed.
O'Connor, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Ginsburg, J., filed a concurring opinion, post, p. 154.
Jim Waide argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the briefs were David A. Chandler, Victor I. Fleitas, Eric Schnapper, and Alan B. Morrison.
Patricia A. Millett argued the cause for the United States et al. as amici curiae urging reversal. On the brief were Solicitor General Waxman, Deputy Solicitor General Underwood, Matthew D. Roberts, C. Gregory Stewart, and Philip B. Sklover.
Taylor B. Smith argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief was Berkley N. Huskison.*
*Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were filed for the AARP by Thomas W. Osborne, Laurie A. McCann, Sally Dunaway, and Melvin Radowitz; for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America by Jeffrey Robert White; for the Hispanic National Bar Association by Seth J. Benezra, Luis Perez, and Gilbert M. Roman; for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law et al. by Daniel F. Kolb, Norman Redlich, Barbara R. Arnwine, Thomas J. Henderson, Richard T. Seymour, Teresa A. Ferrante, Elainy R. Jones, Theodore M. Shaw, Norman J. Chachkin, Charles Stephen Ralston, Dennis C. Hayes, Antonia Hernandez, Judith L. Lichtman, Donna R. Lenhoff, Marcia D. Greenberger, Judith C. Appelbaum, Martha F. Davis, Sara L. Mandelbaum, and Steven R. Shapiro; and for the National Employment Lawyers Association by Paul W. Mollica and Paula A. Brantner.
Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for the Alabama Retail Association by John J. Coleman III and Marcel L. Debruge; for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States by Marshall B. Babson, Stan-
Page: Index Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: October 4, 2007