Opinion of the Court in Wal-Mart v. Dukes
The Wal-Mart Class-Action Suit Cannot Proceed
We are presented with one of the most expansive class actions ever. The district court and the court of appeals approved the certification of a class comprising about 1.5 million plaintiffs, current and former female employees of petitioner Wal-Mart, who allege that the discretion exercised by their local supervisors over pay and promotion matters violates Title VII by discriminating against women. In addition to injunctive and declaratory relief, the plaintiffs seek an award of back pay. Identifying “Commonality” The class action is “an exception to the usual rule that litigation is conducted by and on behalf of the…
