Arizona Governing Committee v. Norris

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Determined whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibited employers from offering the option of receiving retirement benefits from companies that paid lower monthly retirement benefits to women than to men.

Full Case Title: 

Arizona Governing Committee for Tax Deferred Annuity and Deferred Compensation Plans v. Norris, 463 U.S. 1073 (1983)
  • Workplace Equality and Economic Empowerment

Year: 

1983
  • Sex-Based Classification
  • Authored Amicus Brief

Brief: 

Summary of the Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that employers offering employees the option of receiving retirement benefits from companies that paid lower monthly retirement benefits to women than to men violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Arizona Governing Committee appealed to the Supreme Court.

Decision

The Supreme Court agreed with the Circuit Court, writing, "The Court holds that this practice does constitute discrimination on the basis of sex in violation of Title VII, and that all retirement benefits derived from contributions made after the decision today must be calculated without regard to the sex of the beneficiary."