Judge Amy Coney Barrett (screengrab)
A ruling by Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett that whitewashed racism in the workplace shocked the Internet this week.
In a recent report on Barrett's notable opinions, the Associated Press highlighted a 2019 workplace discrimination ruling that Barrett wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel.
According to the the report, Barrett said that there was no evidence that use of the n-word "created a hostile or abusive working environment."
The AP reported:
“The n-word is an egregious racial epithet,” Barrett wrote in Smith v. Illinois Department of Transportation. “That said, Smith can’t win simply by proving that the word was uttered. He must also demonstrate that Colbert’s use of this word altered the conditions of his employment and created a hostile or abusive working environment.”
Twitter users reacted in shock on Tuesday when attorney Jill Filipovic shared details of the case.
Here's a racial discrimination case that Barrett did decide, where she wrote that being called the n-word at work b… https://t.co/VrrqVzFjxl— Jill Filipovic (@Jill Filipovic) 1602597435.0
Many of the commenters wondered if Barrett would feel the same way if her adopted black children had been the subject of racial discrimination.
Read some of the comments below.
@JillFilipovic @waltshaub By definition, this does create a hostile work environment. Her opinion is just playing with words.— Karen Beard (@Karen Beard) 1602599631.0
@JillFilipovic @AdamParkhomenko She’s going to be appointed no matter what. When the Supreme Court was founded our… https://t.co/7hpju4G1lR— julieS (@julieS) 1602600122.0
@JillFilipovic That is about as hostile as it gets.— BlackPhysicists (@BlackPhysicists) 1602599980.0
@JillFilipovic one wonders if she would feel like a teacher "simply" used that word about one of her children would… https://t.co/EN9o5IdIrP— Henry the Dog (@Henry the Dog) 1602599966.0
@JillFilipovic The Founders probably used the n-word all the time, so obviously it's okay. Originalism ftw.— BikeCrash (@BikeCrash) 1602600073.0
@JillFilipovic @jess_mc Holy shit! What the hell would she call hostile or abusive?!— Roger Kuehler (@Roger Kuehler) 1602600202.0
@JillFilipovic @waltshaub How does one offer proof that “egregious” hostility changes ones subjective experience?— “Stay True to Your North Star” Ask Expect (@“Stay True to Your North Star” Ask Expect) 1602598116.0
@JillFilipovic If this is what is going to be sitting on the highest court in the land then Democrats have no other… https://t.co/4ksB7WuQbD— Glenn Jones (@Glenn Jones) 1602600337.0
@JillFilipovic @lisabBSNRN Being called the N word at work does not constitute a hostile work environment, accordin… https://t.co/I0KBN6TGG6— Jennifer Jones (@Jennifer Jones) 1602600490.0
@JillFilipovic @GallagherWitt And even Kavanaugh disagrees with her. He wrote. “No other word in the English langua… https://t.co/DkvY51AkDo— Mr. Jason Wincuinas (@Mr. Jason Wincuinas) 1602600601.0
@True_Thoughts @JillFilipovic @waltshaub She would— ...And Justice 4 @ll (@...And Justice 4 @ll) 1602598358.0
@JillFilipovic @EmmaVigeland Wow. What century does she live in? The n word is per se perjorative, hostile and abusive.— Charlotte O'Shay, JD, Romance Author (@Charlotte O'Shay, JD, Romance Author) 1602599366.0
@JillFilipovic So, if her kids get called the N word she'll be like: https://t.co/YCuKaVmPtQ— Alejandra (@Alejandra) 1602598344.0
@oostaboosta @JillFilipovic @waltshaub Oh, she gets it. She just wants to roll back employee protections at least 100 years.— Brianna Chesser (@Brianna Chesser) 1602599182.0
@JillFilipovic My daughter just said this to me. “That’s why she has the black kids, they’ll do all the work, watch… https://t.co/SEzFlQoIVP— MJ Dumas (@MJ Dumas) 1602600882.0
@JillFilipovic @boltonsstache69 As an HR professional, how does the boss uttering the N-word NOT make it a hostile… https://t.co/GpjLA3sZAB— Champagne Blonde (@Champagne Blonde) 1602598435.0
@JillFilipovic @DrJenGunter Since she dragged her kids to the hearing, let’s be sure her two Black children get a copy of this.— Lizzy B (@Lizzy B) 1602600900.0
@JillFilipovic @meiselasb Wow...I feel sorry for her two adopted kids from Haiti. I wonder what they’re called when nobody’s around to hear.— LouLou🇨🇦 (@LouLou🇨🇦) 1602598686.0
@JillFilipovic Whitesplaining at its finest— bart denijs (@bart denijs) 1602600818.0
