Filed Date: Jan. 21, 1983
Closed Date: 1986
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case involved facially neutral municipal ordinances of a suburb in Chicago in the 1980s that had discriminatory impact on black individuals. On January 21, 1983, the United States filed this lawsuit against the town of Cicero in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The United States sought injunctive relief to enjoin the enforcement of the ordinances.
The United States alleged that three of Cicero’s ordinances were illegal. Two of the ordinances required that applicants for firemen and policemen positions to have been residents of the town for at least 3 years. The third ordinance required applicants for all other municipal jobs to have been residents of the town for at least one year. Although these ordinances were facially neutral, the United States argued that they discriminated against Black people. While the town of Cicero neighbored two predominantly black communities, the town itself was predominantly white.
On November 13, 1984, the United States moved for a preliminary injunction. The district court denied the motion, reasoning that the ordinances were facially neutral and did not violate Title VII because they prohibited all non-residents from applying regardless of race. The United States appealed the district court decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
On March 20, 1986, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the district court’s decision and remanded the case for its failure to properly apply the precedent. The Seventh Circuit agreed with the United States that the district court had failed to consider that the ordinances had a disparate impact. Accordingly, they vacated the denial of the preliminary injunction. 786 F.2d 331. In 1986, the parties entered a consent decree to end the town’s discriminatory practices. The Clearinghouse was not able to find further details.
This case is closed.
Summary Authors
Rhea Sharma (4/1/2024)
Last updated March 30, 2024, 3:08 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Illinois
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 21, 1983
Closing Date: 1986
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Issues