News & Analysis as of

Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) Students for Fair Admissions v University of North Carolina Affirmative Action

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

U.S. Department of Education’s ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter Prohibiting DEI and FAQs Document Challenged in Federal Court

On March 5, 2025, the National Education Association (NEA) and its New Hampshire affiliate (NEA-NH) sued the U.S. Department of Education, challenging a recently issued “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) that informed schools that...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

U.S. Department of Education releases FAQ for February 14th Dear Colleague Letter

Bricker Graydon LLP on

On March 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document in connection with the February 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL). This document aims to clarify how...more

Venable LLP

DEI and Potential False Claims Act Liability in Higher Education

Venable LLP on

Imagine you're sitting in a conference room with a group of administrators and staff across various schools and departments, discussing budgetary constraints, campus resources, and student group initiatives—a day like any...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Federal court dismisses one of first post-SFFA lawsuits alleging “reverse” discrimination

Spoiler alert: DEI policy wasn't enough to establish discrimination. Five journalists who were formerly employed with Gannett Co., Inc., alleged that the media company’s diversity policies resulted in “reverse”...more

WilmerHale

Corporate DEI Landscape - One Year After SFFA

WilmerHale on

In the year since the Supreme Court’s highly anticipated decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina (SFFA), effectively eliminating race-conscious...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Project W - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Charting a Path Forward

With the recent spate of legal challenges against DEI initiatives, business leaders are being forced to balance their commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion with the risk of costly and time-consuming...more

Jenner & Block

DEI in the Crosshairs: Reflections On 2023 And Predictions For 2024

Jenner & Block on

From the classroom to the boardroom, attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) gained significant momentum in 2023. Bolstered by their victory at the Supreme Court in the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) cases,...more

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

The Impact of the Supreme Court’s Decision on Affirmative Action in Education on Workplace DEI

In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued rulings in two related cases: Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina, Nos. 20-1199 & 21-707,...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

The Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Opinion Continues To Spawn Challenges to DEI Programs

Key Points - - In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, challenges to DEI initiatives have focused on programs that facially appear to provide a zero-sum advantage based on protected...more

Cole Schotz

The U.S. Supreme Court Recently Overturned Affirmative Action Precedent in Higher Education – Will Employer DEI Efforts be...

Cole Schotz on

On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard College and the University of North...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

DEI Under Scrutiny, Part I: Increased Challenges to DEI Programming Give Employers a Reason to Perform Risk Assessments

This article is the first part of Ogletree Deakins’ series, “DEI Under Scrutiny,” which examines the evolving employment law landscape for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the United States....more

FordHarrison

Have You Audited Your DEIA Initiatives? If Not, You Should

FordHarrison on

Executive Summary: Following the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA v. Harvard/UNC, Attorneys General from 13 states and United States Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas sent letters to business leaders, warning of potential legal...more

Mintz - Employment Viewpoints

Nasdaq’s “Show and Tell” Diversity Disclosure Survives Initial Challenge

The Fifth Circuit has rejected the challenge to Nasdaq’s “show and tell” diversity rule that requires Nasdaq companies to publicly disclose the makeup of their boards. In Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment, National Center...more

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Recent Complaints Illustrate Reverse Discrimination Issues

Following the Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action decision, legal press publications have reported about complaints and enforcement threats sent to law firms based on their diversity initiatives. In some cases, these...more

Rumberger | Kirk

How HR Can Navigate The Post-Affirmative Action Landscape

Rumberger | Kirk on

From campus to corporate - Highlights: The Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling may influence workplace diversity efforts significantly. Title VII implications from the Equal Protection Clause interpretation...more

Fenwick & West LLP

What’s Next for Diversity Shareholder Proposals? A Look at Recent Trends

Fenwick & West LLP on

Following the death of George Floyd and mass protests against racial inequity in 2020 culminating years of slowly building stakeholder pressure on various aspects of diversity, many companies expressed their commitment to...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Corporate DEI Policies Face Scrutiny Following SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down race-based affirmative action in higher education in June 2023, effectively foreclosing the consideration of race in and of itself in that context. Although the Court’s decision was...more

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Update on Post-SFFA Challenges to DEI Initiatives: Law Firm Fellowship Programs in the Crosshairs

As previewed in our previous client alert, certain groups have now pursued legal action contending that employers’ diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs are subject to legal challenge based on the U.S. Supreme...more

Akerman LLP

Navigating the Affirmative Action Prohibition

Akerman LLP on

The Supreme Court made history when it issued its long-awaited opinion regarding the constitutionality of affirmative action in Harvard College and University of North Carolina cases. As our practice update explained, SCOTUS...more

Proskauer Rose LLP

Implications of U.S. Supreme Court Decision Overturning Affirmative Action Precedent in Higher Education

Proskauer Rose LLP on

On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Ten DEI Steps Employers Should Consider Now

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

The U.S. Supreme Court held the use of race in university and college admissions is unconstitutional in its Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. decisions on June 29, 2023. The Court’s ruling directly addresses only the...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

SCOTUS’ Recent Affirmative Action Decision and the Ripple Effect on DEI and AI-Powered Recruiting Platforms

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action in undergraduate admissions, Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, No. 20-1199 has significant implications...more

Stokes Wagner

Impact of The U.S. Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision on Employers

Stokes Wagner on

On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court overturned a decades-old precedent that held race-based affirmative action policies in higher education institutions were constitutional. However, in Students for Fair...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Supplier Diversity Programs Face Increased Scrutiny and Risk as the Spotlight Brightens on Corporate DEI Initiatives

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Seyfarth Synopsis: While the potential impact on private companies’ employee-focused DEI efforts has received much attention in the wake of the recent Supreme Court higher education affirmative action cases, another strategic...more

Nilan Johnson Lewis PA

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace

Nilan Johnson Lewis PA on

In July 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court gravely restricted the use of affirmative action in college admissions when it handed down its decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. Since that decision, many questions have...more

74 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 3

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide