Boston Firefighters v. NAACP, 461 U.S. 477 (1983)

Argued: April 18, 1983
Decided: May 16, 1983
Syllabus

U.S. Supreme Court

Boston Firefighters v. NAACP, 461 U.S. 477 (1983)

Boston Firefighters Union, Local 718 v. Boston Chapter, NAACP

No. 82-185

Argued April 18, 1983

Decided May 16, 1983

461 U.S. 477

Syllabus


Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Boston Firefighters v. NAACP, 461 U.S. 477 (1983) Boston Firefighters Union, Local 718 v. Boston Chapter, NAACP

No. 82-185

Argued April 18, 1983

Decided May 16, 1983

461 U.S. 477

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR

THE FIRST CIRCUIT

Syllabus

Held: The Court of Appeals' judgment -- upholding the District Court's orders enjoining the Boston Police and Fire Departments from laying off policemen and firemen in a manner that would reduce the percentage of minority officers below the level obtaining at the commencement of the layoffs -- is vacated, and the cases are remanded for consideration of mootness in light of Massachusetts' intervening enactment of legislation relating to the layoffs.

679 F.2d 965, vacated and remanded.

Page 461 U. S. 478

PER CURIAM.

In these cases, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld the District Court's August 7, 1981, orders enjoining the Boston Police and Fire Departments from laying off policemen and firefighters in a manner that would reduce the percentage of minority officers below the level obtaining at the commencement of layoffs in July, 1981. 679 F.2d 965 (1982). These orders had the effect of partially superseding the operation of the State's statutory last-hired, first-fired scheme for civil service layoffs, Mass.Gen.Laws Ann., ch. 31, § 39 (West 1979). Following the Court of Appeals' decision, Massachusetts enacted legislation providing the city of Boston with new revenues, requiring reinstatement of all police and firefighters laid off during the reductions in force,

Page 461 U. S. 479

securing these personnel against future layoffs for fiscal reasons, and requiring the maintenance of minimum staffing levels in the Police and Fire Departments through June 30, 1983. See 1982 Mass. Acts, ch.190, § 25. In light of these changed circumstances, we vacate the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand for consideration of mootness in light of 1982 Mass. Acts, ch.190, § 25.

It is so ordered.

JUSTICE MARSHALL took no part in the consideration or decision of these cases.