U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton ruled Tuesday that the civil rights of white New Haven firefighters were violated when city officials threw out the results of a 2003 promotion exam after too few minorities did well.

Her ruling followed the Supreme Court's instructions in its ruling in June in Ricci v. DeStefano. Six firefighters are set to be promoted to captain and eight - including Frank Ricci, the lead plaintiff in the case - to lieutenant.

City spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga said New Haven intended to promote the firefighters "as soon as practicable."

Yesterday's action is the culmination of a dispute that originated when New Haven hired an outside firm to design a test for candidates for firefighter promotions.

Fifty-six firefighters passed the exams - 41 whites, nine blacks, and six Hispanics. But of those, only 17 whites and two Hispanics could expect promotion.

The city eventually decided not to use the exam to determine promotions, seeking to avert a potential lawsuit from minorities. Instead, a group of white firefighters sued, saying their own rights had been violated.

In 2006, Arterton threw out the white firefighters' suit. A federal appeals court upheld her decision before the Supreme Court overturned it.