No. 23-417

Ron Rutledge v. Board of County Commissioners of Johnson County, Kansas

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2023-10-19
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Tags: circuit-split civil-procedure employment-discrimination evidence honest-belief-defense mcdonnell-douglas mcdonnell-douglas-test pretext-analysis summary-judgment
Latest Conference: 2024-01-05
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Does the honest belief defense violate the axiomatic law of summary judgment requiring the evidence and inferences to be viewed in favor of the non-moving party, without weighing the evidence or assessing credibility?

2. If this Court permits the defense to exist, then when an employer makes an honest belief argument in moving for summary judgment, must Courts view the evidence objectively in favor of the non-moving party, or may Courts view the evidence subjectively from the moving party's perspective?

3. Does the disarray in the Circuits over what the honest belief defense is, and how to apply it, require this Court to discard the defense thereby restoring the integrity of the McDonnell Douglas test and Rule 56?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does the honest belief defense violate the axiomatic law of summary judgment requiring the evidence and inferences to be viewed in favor of the non-moving party, without weighing the evidence or assessing credibility?

Docket Entries

2024-01-08
Petition DENIED.
2023-12-06
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/5/2024.
2023-10-17
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 20, 2023)

Attorneys