( CNN ) -- A class action lawsuit that accused ABC and the firms that produce the dating shows `` The Bachelor '' and `` The Bachelorette '' of intentionally excluding people of color from lead roles has been dismissed . U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ruled Monday that Nathaniel Claybrooks ' and Christopher Johnson 's efforts were `` laudable , '' but that casting decisions by the network and series ' producers are protected by the First Amendment . `` The First Amendment prevents the plaintiffs from effectuating these goals by forcing the defendants to employ race-neutral criteria in their casting decisions in order to 'showcase ' a more progressive message , '' the ruling said . The suit was brought by the two Nashville residents , who are African-American , after they applied to be on `` The Bachelor '' in 2011 . Johnson alleged in the complaint that when he went to a casting call for the show , he was denied the typical application process . He said his application materials were taken by an employee of the defendants named in the suit ; the same was n't done for other apparent non-black applicants he saw . Are dating shows behind the curve when it comes to inclusion ? Claybrooks alleges that at his casting call for the show he was interviewed for less time than white applicants , rushed through the process , and therefore not given the same opportunity as the white applicants . The complaint also alleges that few people of color are chosen to compete for the affection of the `` Bachelor '' or `` Bachelorette , '' and when there are , they tend to be eliminated early . ABC declined to comment on the suit , while another defendant , Warner Horizon Television , called the complaint `` baseless and without merit '' in a statement to CNN . The production company says it has had `` various participants of color throughout the series ' history , and the producers have been consistently -- and publicly -- vocal about seeking diverse candidates for both programs . As always , we continue to seek out participants of color for both 'The Bachelor ' and 'The Bachelorette . ' '' Catch up with TV show recaps . What 's new this fall . Celebrity buzz .
A judge rules casting decisions by the network and series producers are protected . The suit was brought by two Nashville residents after they applied to be on `` The Bachelor '' The complaint alleges that few people of color are chosen to compete .