P.M. BRIEFING : Justices Reject Credit-Card Case
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WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court today refused to enter a case involving a claim that a bank discriminated against a man for refusing to issue him a credit card because he was not a U.S. citizen.
The court refused to hear a case brought by Jeetendra Bhandari seeking review of a ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
At issue is the scope of two Civil War era laws, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Voting Rights Act of 1870, generally referred to as Section 1981 of the U.S. Code.
The law grants the right to “make and enforce contracts . . . enjoyed by white citizens” to all residents. Over the years, the law has proved a potent weapon in fighting discrimination by both government and private parties such as businesses. More recent civil rights laws are less comprehensive and do not provide for jury trials and damages.
The case before the court concerns whether the law protects non-citizens from discriminatory action by businesses in the same way it protects citizens.
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