Document: 481 U.S. 604 107 S.Ct. 2022 95 L.Ed.2d 582 SAINT FRANCIS COLLEGE, et al., Petitioners,v.Majid Ghaidan AL-KHAZRAJI, etc. No. 85-2169. Argued Feb. 25, 1987. Decided May 18, Rehearing Denied June 22, See 483 1011, 3244. Syllabus Respondent professor, a United States citizen born in Iraq, filed suit Federal District Court against petitioners, his former employer and its tenure committee, alleging that, by denying him nearly three years before, they had discriminated on the basis of Arabian race violation 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The court held that claim was not barred under Pennsylvania 6-year statute limitations, but granted summary judgment for petitioners upon finding 1981 does reach discrimination claims based ancestry. Appeals Third Circuit acknowledged recent Goodman [v. Lukens Steel Co., 777 F.2d 113 (CA 3 1985) ] case overruled earlier decisions applying Pennsylvania's 2-year personal injury limitations rather than period cases, ruled respondent's time since should be applied retroactively Chevron Oil Co. v. Huson, 404 97, 92 349, 30 296. However, reversed merits, holding respondent properly alleged racial although Arabs are Caucasians current classifications, Congress, when it passed what is now 1981, did limit protections to those who today would considered members different from defendant's. said at minimum, reaches directed an individual because he or she genetically part ethnically physiognomically distinctive subgrouping homo sapiens. Because record insufficient determine whether been subjected sort prejudice redress, remanded. Held: 1 1. Respondent's barred. When suit, clearly established plaintiff six bring action. correctly decision retroactively, indicated manifestly inequitable apply overrule precedent which complaining party entitled rely. Pp. 608-609. 2 2. A person ancestry may protected rejected petitioners' contention as Caucasian, cannot allege thetype forbids section encompass one Caucasian another. That position assumes all might deemed were thought same became law. In fact, 19th-century sources commonly described "race" terms particular ethnic groups, including Arabs, do support other present-day "Caucasians" then single race. Moreover, 1981's legislative history indicates Congress intended protect identifiable classes persons intentional solely their characteristics. physiognomy essential qualify protection. Thus, if can prove fact Arab, place nation origin religion, will have made out case. 609-613. 784 505 1986), affirmed. 4 WHITE, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. BRENNAN, concurring opinion, post, p. ----. 5 Nick S. Fisfis, Pittsburgh, Pa., petitioners. 6 Caroline Mitchell, New York City, respondent. 7 Justice WHITE 8 Respondent, associate professor St. Francis College, here. January 1978, tenure; Board Trustees denied request February 23, 1978. He accepted 1-year, nonrenewable contract sought administrative reconsideration decision, 6, 1979. worked last day college 26, 1979, complaints with Human Relations Commission Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. state agency dismissed EEOC issued right-to-sue letter August 1980. 9 On October 30, 1980, pro se complaint Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964 claiming national origin, and/or Amended filed, adding §§ 1983, 1985(3), 1986, 1986 1985(3) untimely 1983 limitations. also denial race, action could maintained. Defendants' motion came up before judge, construed pleadings asserting only cover. Even alleged, ancestry.1 10 timely filed. Under Appeals' 1985), governed Appeals, however, relying 296 (1971), this pre-Goodman cases borrowed State's statute. 11 Reaching classifications Caucasians, maintain claim.2 limited defendant. Rather, enhance "at least, membership group distinctive." 505, 517 1986). Section minimum," "discrimination sub-grouping sapiens." Ibid. full discovery sufficient given opportunity case.3 12 We certiorari, 479 812, 62, 93 21 (1986), issue question affirm Appeals. 13 * agree Wilson Garcia, 471 261, 105 1938, 85 254 (1985), required selecting applicable lower federal courts choose torts. Thereafter, applies well apply. case, prior bar suit. 14 Insofar prevailing law Circuit, we no reason disagree controlling file within time. F.2d, 512-513. assume decide Garcia controls selection cases. usual rule decided accordance existing decision. Gulf Offshore Mobil Corp., 453 473, 486, n. 16, 101 2870, 2879, 69 (1981); Thorpe Durham Housing Authority, 393 268, 281, 89 518, 526, 474 (1969); Schooner Peggy, Cranch 103, 110, L.Ed. 49 (1801). But supra, counsels retroactive application certain circumstances. There, specifying prospectively rely, inconsistent purpose underlying substantive statute, such inequitable. found these factors present foreclosed Goodman. perceive good where has Nor petitioner persuaded us there any error circumstances II provides: 15 "All jurisdiction shall right every State Territory make enforce contracts, sue, parties, give evidence, equal benefit laws proceedings security property enjoyed white citizens, subject like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes, licenses, exactions kind, other." 16 Although itself use word "race," forbid "racial" making private public contracts. Runyon McCrary, 427 160, 168, 174-175, 96 2586, 2593, 2596-2597, 415 (1976). Petitioner college, institution, therefore statutory command. There disagreement among parties propositions. meaning 17 Petitioners contend kind forbids. Concededly, McDonald Santa Fe Trail Transportation 273, 2574, 493 (1976), suit; involved favor black, submits quite sure position. 18 Petitioner's submission rests assumption 19th century; variety race.4 understanding century, different. Plainly, 19 middle dictionaries referred "continued series descendants parent called stock," N. Webster, An American Dictionary English Language 666 (New 1830) (emphasis original), "[t]he lineage family," 411 Haven 1841), "descendants common ancestor," J. Donald, Chambers' Etymological (London 1871). 1887 edition Webster's expanded definition somewhat: "The ancestor; family, tribe, people nation, believed presumed belong stock." 589 (W. Wheeler ed. 1887). It until 20th century began referring Mongolian, Negro races, Century Cyclopedia 4926 (1911), involving divisions mankind physical Collegiate 794 (3d 1916). so, modern still include definitions "a people, belonging International 1870 (1971); Ninth 969 (1986). 20 Encyclopedias narrower concept urge. Encyclopedia Americana 1858, example, various races Finns, vol. 5, 123, gypsies, id., Basques, 602, Hebrews, 209. 1863 version Cyclopaedia divided into number subsidiary 1, 739; represented Hebrews Semitic 27, identified numerous groups constituting Swedes, 216, Norwegians, 410, Germans, 200, Greeks, 438, 513, Italians, 644-645 (referring mixture races), Spanish, 804, Mongolians, 651, Russians, 226, like. Britannica 2, 245 (1878), Jews, 685 (1881), 473 (1879), Hungarians, 365 (1880), 83 separate races. These dictionary encyclopedic somewhat diverse, clear purposes Englishmen, expect McCrary source 1866, Stat. Voting 1870, 140, 144, reflect understanding, surely does. debates replete references Scandinavian Cong.Globe, 39th Cong., 1st Sess., 499 (1866) (remarks Sen. Cowan), Chinese, 523 Davis), Latin, 238 Rep. Kasson during debate home Columbia), 251 Davis Columbia suffrage), Anglo-Saxon 542 Dawson). ibid., Mexicans, see Dawson), blacks, passim, 498 similarly categorized. Gypsies Cowan). Likewise, Germans: 22 "Who say Ohio pass enacting man German . ever own Ohio, inherit come live, even work? If law, exclude nationality so." Id., 1294 Shellabarger). 23 reference appears European Davis). 24 reflects similar discrimination. clear, civil rights sections provided protection immigrant Chinese. This view expressed Senate. 41st 2d 1536, 3658, 3808 (1870). House, Representative Bingham Act, authority declaring "that hereafter discriminate China Prussia, nor France Ireland." 3871. 25 Based little trouble concluding Such forbid, classified scientific theory.5 thus "because our holding, remand 26 accordingly 27 so ordered. concurring. 28 Pernicious distinctions individuals antithetical doctrine equality Nation founded. Today upholds Congress' desire rid arbitrary invidious discrimination, I concur judgment. write separately point line between "ancestry characteristics," ante, 613, "place origin," bright one. true one's ancestry—the her ancestors descended—is necessarily origin—the country "where born, or, more broadly, came." Espinoza Farah Manufacturing 414 86, 88, 94 334, 336, 38 287 (1973) added). Often, two identical factual matter: whose primary stock group. treated ethnicity some For context, overlap legal matter. 29 CFR 1606.1 (1986) added) (national "includ[es], [is] to, employment individual's, ancestor's, origin; physical, cultural, linguistic characteristics group"); Espinoza, 89, S.Ct., 337 (the deletion final 703 1964, 2000e-2(e), "was material change, suggesting 'national origin' 'ancestry' synonymous"). read Court's birthplace alone want pendent dismissed. religious assertedly reached committee liability reconsider dismissal claims. popular major human races—Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid. Many biologists anthropologists, criticize variability beings. homogeneous populations exist traits discontinuous populations; therefore, population relative frequencies traits. Clear-cut categories exist. generally chosen characterize criticized having biological significance. differences often greater "average" observations others led some, all, scientists conclude most sociopolitical, biological, nature. Molnar, Variation (2d 1983); Gould, Mismeasure Man M. Banton & Harwood, Race Concept (1975); A. Montagu, Man's Most Dangerous Myth (1974); Statement 1972); Science (M. Mead, T. Dobzhansky, E. Tobach, R. Light eds. 1968); (1964); Benedict, Racism (1942); Littlefield, Lieberman, Reynolds, Redefining Race: Potential Demise Physical Anthropology, Current Anthropology 641 (1982); Biological Aspects Race, Int'l Soc.Sci.J. 71 (1965); Washburn, Study 65 Anthropologist 521 (1963). note violates Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment. Hernandez Texas, 347 475, 479, 74 667, 671, 98 866 (1954); Oyama California, 332 633, 646, 68 269, 275, 249 (1948); Hirabayashi States, 320 81, 100, 63 1375, 1385, 87 1774 (1943). Hurd Hodge, 334 24, 32, 847, 851, 1187 (1948).

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