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SAN FRANCISCO โ€“ A federal appeals court on Friday ordered a trial to determine if the California Highway Patrol discriminates against minorities when it comes to promoting officers. In doing so, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a federal j

Staff
Saturday June 01, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO โ€“ A federal appeals court on Friday ordered a trial to determine if the California Highway Patrol discriminates against minorities when it comes to promoting officers. 

In doing so, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a federal judge who, during pretrial stages of the case, found that there was discrimination and too few minorities at high-level positions. 

The appeals court said data the aggrieved CHP officers submitted did not properly indicate there was discrimination, and ordered the case to proceed to a trial with new data. A CHP spokesman said the department was mulling its legal options. 

The case, which has bounced through the court system and never gone to trial, was filed in 1993 by a black officer who claimed he was passed over for a promotion because of his race. 

No trial date has been set. 

The highway patrol is also the subject of allegations it discriminates against minority motorists on highways.