(The Center Square) – Litigation cannot be pursued by a disabled Florida firefighter against the city of Sanford under the Americans With Disability Act, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday.

Karyn Stanley, in Stanley v. City of Stanford, sued the city after officials said that her disability entitled her to only 24 months of insurance coverage. Stanley was hired by the city as a firefighter in 1999 and was forced to retire in 2018 due to a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. 

The city changed its policy in 2003 to provide health insurance for retirees with 25 years of service up to age 65, while those who retired due to disability only received two years of coverage after leaving city service. 

Writing for the majority in the 7-2 decision, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch agreed with the District Court ruling that said the ADA didn’t give Stanley the ability to sue since she was not a “qualified individual” because “she was not someone ‘who with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires.'”

That ruling was affirmed by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. 

Gorsuch also said “other avenues may exist for retirees like Ms. Stanley to seek relief” and that other laws might protect retirees from discrimination with respect to postemployment benefits. 

In a dissent, Associate Justice Kentajii Brown Jackson said “retirement benefits are essential building blocks of the American Dream. Workers typically earn these benefits on the job and reap the rewards after leaving the workforce. Congress has long understood that, by enabling workers to retire with dignity, independence, and security, retirement benefits are a critical aspect of job-related compensation.”

She also said in her dissent that the court ignored those rights. 

“It (the court) reaches out to cut off postemployment protection against disability discrimination in a case that does not require us to decide that question; seizes upon the inapposite text of the qualified-individual definition; and converts that text into a temporal limit it was never designed to be,” Jackson said. “Worse still, by doing all this, the court renders meaningless Title I’s protections for disabled workers’ retirement benefits just when those protections matter most.”

In a concurring opinion with the majority, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, took exception with what he termed “a bait and switch” where the plaintiffs asked the court to resolve what he termed a “discrete circuit split” and then asked the court to resolve “an entirely different legal question.” 

“Redirecting us to a different legal question at the merits stage can be disruptive, inefficient, and unfair to all involved,” Thomas said. 

(The Center Square) – A Native American group is pleased with the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to refer an investigation into New York institutions to the Department of Justice over the use of Native mascots in public education.

The New York Department of Education (NYDE) and the New York State Board of Regents came under fire “for their unlawful attempt to ban mascots and logos that celebrate Native American history,” an investigation that is now referred “to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement,” according to an Education Department release.

Vice president of the Native American Guardian’s Association (NAGA) Frank Blackcloud told The Center Square that “NAGA strongly supports the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to refer this investigation to the Department of Justice.”

NAGA is a nonprofit collective of American Indians aiming to “reserve the rich legacy of [their] ancestors and ensure that American Indian names, symbols, and traditions are honored – not erased,” according to its website.

Blackcloud told The Center Square: “We view [this referral] as a crucial step towards upholding free speech and ensuring that policy decisions impacting Native American heritage consider diverse viewpoints within our communities.”

“Attempts to impose sweeping bans often disregard the many Native Americans, including NAGA members, who find these symbols honorable,” Blackcloud said.

“This referral allows for a more thorough and just examination, rather than a unilateral decree,” Blackcloud said.

Additionally, Blackcloud said that “banning Native American mascots and logos is wrong because, for many, they represent honor, strength, and pride.”

“Names like ‘Chiefs,’ ‘Braves,’ and ‘Redskins’ were chosen to evoke admirable qualities like leadership and courage,” Blackcloud said.

“NAGA believes equating these terms with derogatory slurs mischaracterizes their intent and historical usage for many Native people,” Blackcloud said.

“Crucially, a significant portion of Native Americans do not find these symbols offensive; instead, they find them empowering and a source of pride,” Blackcloud said.

“Such bans stifle respectful cultural expression and ignore these diverse voices, leading to an erasure of Native American visibility rather than fostering true understanding,” Blackcloud said.

The investigation against NYDE and the New York State Board of Regents came about after “allegations that the Board was violating federal antidiscrimination law by forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its ‘Chiefs’ mascot based on its association with Native American culture,” as stated by the Department of Education.

When reached for comment, the Massapequa Board of Education told The Center Square that the referral of the New York investigation to the Department of Justice “represents another major step towards victory in Massapequa’s fight against New York State.”

“We look forward to prevailing in court and invalidating the State’s unconstitutional, discriminatory regulation,” the Massapequa Board said.

“In Massapequa, we are Chiefs,” the Massapequa board said. “That’s not changing anytime soon.”

New York State Education Department spokesman JP O’Hare holds a different view of the investigation and referral. O’Hare told The Center Square that “the referral of this matter to the Department of Justice shows that USDOE’s investigation was a farce from the outset.”

“To the extent that any investigation took place, it represents a blatant attempt to do a political favor for the Massapequa Board of Education,” O’Hare said.

“Rather than wrestling over mascots, maybe we could all focus on what’s paramount, ensuring our schools are inclusive and respectful for every student,” O’Hare said.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a Department of Education release that “both the New York Department of Education and the Board of Regents violated federal antidiscrimination law and disrespected the people of Massapequa by implementing an absurd policy: prohibiting the use of Native American mascots while allowing mascots derived from European national origin.”

“Both of these entities continue to disrespect the people of Massapequa by refusing to come into compliance with the Office for Civil Rights’ proposed agreement to rectify their violations of civil rights law,” McMahon said.

Blackcloud told The Center Square that there are “complex and varied opinions within Native American communities on this topic.”

“NAGA advocates for accurate and honorable representation,” Blackcloud said and that “banning these symbols often inadvertently leads to greater invisibility for Native Americans in mainstream society, counteracting the very goal of recognition and respect.”

(The Center Square) – The accused Minnesota shooter bought a Buick sedan and electric bike from an individual he met at a bus stop as he worked to escape authorities before being cornered and arrested near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota, according to a 20-page affidavit filed regarding 57-year-old Vance Boelter.

Boelter has been charged with stalking and killing Minnesota House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman and her husband along with the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and his wife. The Hoffmans are expected to make a full recover.

The affidavit shed light on the activities that led to and included the shooting of four people – two who were killed – early Saturday in what has been described by authorities as an assassination of elected officials.

Boelter allegedly texted his family members including his wife and children at 6:18 a.m. on Saturday, writing “Dad went to war last night … I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody.”

He also allegedly then texted his wife, writing “words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation … there’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around.”

The affidavit detailed that two handguns, $10,000 and passports for Boelter’s wife and children were found in the car with them.

Boelter’s SUV included a fake plate with the letters “POLICE” on the back from items he purchased at Fleet Farm. It also included a Garmin GPS device with the addresses of the politicians whose homes he went to along with the addresses of at least two other state officials.

It also included an address to a home he shared with a roommate, which authorities then searched and found notebooks with the names and addresses of Minnesota politicians.

Another notebook included the websites of three companies that sold silicone masks like the one he was allegedly wearing when he showed up at the homes of the individuals he is accused of shooting.

A receipt showed that Boelter allegedly bought a flashlight, tactical rifle case, ammunition and the materials used to make the license plate.

The affidavit also detailed what security cameras saw at the homes where he is accused of the shootings.

Many of the items described were found outside of the Hortmans’ home after Boelter allegedly fled to elude police.