Opinion ID: 166623
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Job Qualifications

Text: 13 Ms. Jaramillo claims that the promotion of Mr. Sandoval was patently unreasonable, thereby supporting the inference of discrimination, because she was far more qualified for the job. We must proceed with caution when considering the relative merits of individual employees. The courts may not act as a super personnel department that second guesses employers' business judgments. Simms, 165 F.3d at 1330 (quotation omitted). Accordingly, minor differences between a plaintiff's qualifications and those of a successful applicant are not sufficient to show pretext. Bullington v. United Air Lines, Inc., 186 F.3d 1301, 1319 (10th Cir.1999), overruled on other grounds, Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 122 S.Ct. 2061, 153 L.Ed.2d 106 (2002). To show pretext, the disparity in qualifications must be overwhelming. Id. at 1319 (citing Sanchez v. Philip Morris, 992 F.2d 244, 247-48 (10th Cir.1993)); see also Odom v. Frank, 3 F.3d 839, 847 (5th Cir.1993) (explaining that the difference in qualifications must be so glaring as to jump off the page and slap us in the face). As discussed above, the evidence shows, and Ms. Jaramillo concedes, that the CJD could have believed in good faith that Mr. Sandoval was at least as well qualified as she was. A jury therefore could not find that this explanation was pretext for unlawful discrimination. 14