FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
February 1, 2017
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG STRANGE PRAISES FEDERAL COURT RULING
FOR STATE IN MINIMUM WAGE LITIGATION
(MONTGOMERY) Attorney General Luther Strange welcomed today’s
decision by a federal court in Birmingham to dismiss a lawsuit that challenged the
Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right-to-Work Act.
The Act was passed in 2016 following efforts by the City of Birmingham to set a
local minimum wage. Language within the law stated that its purpose was “to ensure
that [labor] regulation and policy is applied uniformly throughout the state.” Several
groups and individuals subsequently filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of Alabama, asserting numerous claims of racial discrimination in
connection with the Act’s passage. Today, in the case of Lewis v. Bentley, the Court
dismissed each of those claims and entered judgment for the State.
“I am pleased that the Court upheld the Legislature’s clear authority under the
Constitution of Alabama to provide statewide standards,” said Attorney General
Strange. “The Court outlined numerous legal grounds for dismissing this lawsuit, but
the bottom line is this: It was wrong and unfair to accuse the Legislature of racism when
similar minimum-wage laws have been enacted by some sixteen other States, are
supported by empirical social-science research, and previously have been upheld by
other courts. While my Office will continue to defend this law if necessary, I hope
today’s ruling puts an end to any question about its constitutionality.”
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorney General Will Parker of
his Constitutional Defense Section for his skillful handling of this case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
