Filed Date: Jan. 29, 1979
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a long-standing case about equal employment in the federal civil service. The case was originally brought in 1979 by nonprofit counsel against the then Director of the Officer of Personnel Management (OPM) as a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The applicants had filed suit, claiming that the Professional and Administrative Career Examination (PACE) violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Plaintiffs alleged that PACE, which was used by the Civil Service Commission during its hiring process, had an adverse impact on Black and Hispanic applicants. The case ultimately settled in a 1981 consent decree, under which the federal government in part agreed to (1) eliminate PACE, and (2) establish two special hiring programs, Outstanding Scholar and Bilingual/Bicultural. The Clearinghouse does not have access to the original complaint at this time.
The consent decree had been in place for 45 years when, on March 10, 2025, the new OPM Director under Donald Trump's second administration moved to terminate the consent decree. He argued that the consent decree discriminated on the basis of race in violation of the constitution. A memorandum explaining the government's position was submitted alongside the motion to vacate on March 10, 2025. In the memorandum, Defendants argued that the consent decree is unworkable, and that it conflicts with current law. This case has been assigned to Judge Reggie B. Walton and is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Juliet Alpert (3/19/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69731384/parties/luevano-v-director-office-of-personnel-management/
Baller, Morris J. (California)
Erickson, John H. (California)
Blankenstein, Paul (District of Columbia)
Chavez, Mark A. (District of Columbia)
Duffey, Thomas (District of Columbia)
Baller, Morris J. (California)
Erickson, John H. (California)
Goldstein, Barry L (District of Columbia)
Jones, Elaine R. (District of Columbia)
Martinez, Vilma S. (California)
Patterson, Patrick O. (New York)
Perales, Nina (District of Columbia)
Ralston, Charles Stephen (New York)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69731384/luevano-v-director-office-of-personnel-management/
Last updated April 21, 2025, 5:01 p.m.
State / Territory: District of Columbia
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 29, 1979
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiffs were black and hispanic applicants for government employment
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Office of Personnel Management (District of Columbia), Federal
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Issues
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis: