The city of Montgomery, Alabama, had a policy for its fire department that any firefighter convicted of a felony would be discharged. In August 1998, two white firefighters were fired after being convicted of felonies. However, on appealing their discharges to the Montgomery City-County Personnel Board, they were reinstated. In November 1999, Tate Williams, an African American man, was discharged, and on appeal, the board refused reinstatement.

Was this refusal race discrimination? Does your answer depend on whether the white firefighters had committed less serious felonies than Williams?

Should the board have considered each man’s overall record in rendering its decisions? Are there any other factors the board should have taken into account?

See Williams v. City of Montgomery [742 F.2d 586, 37 F.E.P. Cases 52 (11th Cir. 1984)].