Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Saint Paul for its Withdrawal of the Magner Petition from Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, DC – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights issued the following statement in response to the city of Saint Paul’s thoughtful decision to withdraw its petition to the Supreme Court in Magner v. Gallagher. The Leadership Conference joined the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in filing a brief arguing that disparate impact analysis is appropriate under the Fair Housing Act (FHA):

“We applaud the decision by Mayor Christopher Coleman and the city of Saint Paul to withdraw its petition to the Supreme Court in Magner v. Gallagher. By taking this action, the city is protecting its legitimate responsibility for code enforcement and preserving the disparate impact doctrine under federal fair housing law, which is essential to protecting low-income and minority tenants.

Every federal court of appeals that has considered the issue has concluded that disparate impact exists under the Fair Housing Act. This doctrine is a powerful tool to combat redlining, housing discrimination, and predatory lending. This standard will soon be further bolstered when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issues a final regulation codifying disparate impact later this year.

By returning the case to federal district court, Saint Paul has protected its ability, as well as the authority of municipalities across the country, to enforce housing standards for all citizens.

It’s imperative that this established legal framework be preserved. By taking this course of action, the city of Saint Paul protects its own citizens as well as communities across the country.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.