⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit hears oral argument in Payne versus Hammond City. Jennifer Payne, a probationary lieutenant in the Hammond, Louisiana Police Department, filed a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on May third, twenty twenty-three. The city was formally notified of the charge on May ninth, demoted her to police officer on May twenty-fifth, and removed her from the force in December of that year. Payne calls that demotion a two-rank drop from lieutenant; the city says her last permanent rank was sergeant, one rank above police officer. She alleges that the demotion and the termination were retaliation for that charge, that the city discriminated against her on the basis of sex by denying her light-duty work while granting it to male officers, and that the city failed to accommodate her disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city argues Payne twice violated its sick-leave policies while she was out on leave, once by taking a cruise the department had earlier approved as vacation and once by attending an evening event, allegations Payne disputes. It also argues that the investigations and the substantive disciplinary decisions were complete before it received notice of her EEOC charge, and that she could not perform the essential functions of the job in any event, which Payne disputes. On November sixth, twenty twenty-five, the district court granted summary judgment for the city on all claims. On appeal, Payne argues that disputed facts about timing, unprecedented discipline, and comparator evidence required a jury trial. The core legal issues are whether the record permits a reasonable jury to find retaliation, sex discrimination, or failure to accommodate.

Payne v. Hammond City (No. 25-30700) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 4, 2026.