7th Circuit reverses four other rulings; Title VII covers sexual orientation

Federal Courts

By Jay S. Judge

Jay S. Judge, a name partner of Judge, James, Hoban & Fisher LLC in Park Ridge, is a defense attorney who specializes in trials, appeals and insurance coverage. Judge graduated with honors from The John Marshall Law School and served as editor-in-chief of the school’s law review.

Posted May 23, 2017 1:42 PM

Today’s case is a 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision interpreting the meaning of “sex” in Title VII employment discrimination claims brought on the basis of a “person’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin” and whether the term includes sexual orientation.The ruling in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, 853 F.3d 339 (7th Cir. 2017), overrules four prior 7th Circuit decisions.Plaintiff Kimberly Hively, who is openly lesbian, taught part-time as an adjunct …

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