The Commonwealth of Virginia required all applicants for state troopers to be between 21 and 29 years of age, at least 5 feet, 9 inches tall, and at least 156 pounds. The height and weight requirements eliminated 98 percent of the female applicants. The basic employment requirements also made it mandatory that all applicants, including applicants for civilian dispatcher positions, complete and pass written mental ability tests.
The tests for dispatcher positions were not valid predictors of job performance. The tests for the trooper positions also were shown not to be predictors of job performance.
The United States brought suit, charging that Virginia engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination against African American applicants for the civilian positions and against both African American and women candidates for the trooper positions. Did the United States prevail? Explain.
United States v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 620 F.2d 1018 (4th Cir).