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Employment Discrimination Race Discrimination Supreme Court of the United States

Ice Miller

Justices' Ruling Lowers Bar For Reverse Discrimination Suits

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A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services on June 5, concluding that a plaintiff bringing a so-called reverse discrimination claim — where, for example, a majority group...more

Holland & Hart LLP

Fairness Isn't Optional: Lessons from Google's $50M Bias Case and SCOTUS on Title VII

Holland & Hart LLP on

In May 2025, Google agreed to pay $50 million to settle a high-profile class action brought by Black and multiracial employees who alleged systemic racial discrimination in hiring, leveling, and promotion. That same month,...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Justice Thomas continues to ask litigants to challenge McDonnell Douglas standard

In March, the U.S. Supreme Court majority declined to review a decision affirming summary judgment for an employer in a discrimination case. Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, dissented, noting that he...more

Farella Braun + Martel LLP

Supreme Court Confirms That No Different Standard Applies to So-Called "Reverse Discrimination" Cases

It is now well-established that “majority groups” are protected from discrimination under Title VII and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act. These so-called “reverse discrimination” lawsuits are often brought by...more

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

Supreme Court Denies Review of Statute of Limitations for Section 1981 Discrimination Claims

On June 2, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal of a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision interpreting the limitations period for filing lawsuits under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. ...more

DCI Consulting

Job Relatedness and Adverse Impact: What's Legal and What's Not

DCI Consulting on

The concept of adverse impact under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) is widely misunderstood. Adverse impact occurs when a seemingly neutral employment practice disproportionately (i.e. statistically) screens out...more

Whiteford

Employment Law Update: What Employers and Educational Institutions Need to Know about the Attorney General’s February 5th Memo on...

Whiteford on

On February 5, 2025, the U.S. Attorney General (“AG”) Pam Bondi issued a memorandum to all Justice Department employees titled “Ending Illegal DEI and DEIA Discrimination and Preferences,” outlining the Department of...more

Adams & Reese

The Future of DEI Under Trump’s Second Administration

Adams & Reese on

Every time a new President is elected, we employment lawyers write an article of some version of “What to Expect.” Many of my colleagues have written excellent articles on this topic, and the Trump administration has given us...more

Baker Donelson

Unpacking the U.S. Attorney General's "Ending Illegal DEI and DEIA Discrimination Preferences" Memo

Baker Donelson on

The U.S. Attorney General's Office issued a Memorandum, on February 5, 2025, to the employees of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) directing the DOJ Civil Rights Division to "investigate, eliminate, and penalize illegal...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

What to Know About the War Being Waged Against DEI

Can you still have DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs? How about affirmative action plans? The Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard garnered national attention in holding...more

Cozen O'Connor

Costco Urged by Republican AGs to Repeal DEI Policies

Cozen O'Connor on

A group of 19 Republican AGs announced that they have sent a letter to Costco Wholesale Corporation, warning that its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies may violate state and federal civil rights laws prohibiting...more

Butler Snow LLP

Trump and DEI: What Does a Second Term Mean for Employers?

Butler Snow LLP on

In the flurry of executive orders issued shortly after being sworn for a second term, President Donald Trump issued two executive orders and one presidential action dismantling all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)...more

McGlinchey Stafford

Will DEI Programs Become Extinct Under the Trump Administration?

McGlinchey Stafford on

In an effort to embrace diversity and inclusion, many employers established Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The look of these programs varied from company to company; however, many of the programs...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

President Trump’s “Rescission” Executive Order

Foley & Lardner LLP on

Among the executive orders issued by President Trump on January 20, 2025, was one titled Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions (the “Order”). The Order’s stated purpose is to retract what it describes...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Employers’ DEI Initiatives Are Likely To Be Targeted in the Second Trump Administration

Key Points - - Employers can expect their DEI programs to face resistance from both the federal government and private parties during President-elect Trump’s second term, emboldened in part by recent Supreme Court...more

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

2024 Employment Year-End Roundup

INTRODUCTION - The year 2024 brought significant developments to a wide range of employment law areas, from anti-discrimination and retaliation law to labor issues. Federal courts across the country expanded the rights of...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Ten ways to avoid challenges to DEI initiatives

How prepared is your organization? Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies have faced increased...more

Proskauer - California Employment Law

Broadway Actor’s Race Discrimination Claims Sent Back to the Underworld in the Face of Producer’s First Amendment Rights

A federal court in New York has held that a Broadway musical’s casting decisions—specifically replacing one actor with another actor of a different race—are shielded by the First Amendment from employment discrimination...more

Littler

Littler Lightbulb: February Appellate Roundup

Littler on

This Littler Lightbulb highlights some of the more significant employment law developments at the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts of appeal in the last month....more

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

Groff v. DeJoy and Its Impact on Religious Accommodation

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against employees and applicants on the basis of religion (as well as race, color, sex, and national origin), and it...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

The Informed Board Podcast | How Will Corporate DEI Policies Be Affected by the Supreme Court Ruling in the University Affirmative...

The latest episode of the Informed Board podcast features a discussion of the potential implications for U.S. companies of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June striking down race-based affirmative action programs in higher...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

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

Butler Snow LLP

Reviewing Workplace DEI Practices in Light of Students for Fair Admissions Ruling

Butler Snow LLP on

On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court found affirmative action in the college admissions programs of two well-known universities to be unconstitutional. Despite the opinion only addressing two specific college...more

Perkins Coie

July Tip of the Month: Supreme Court DEI Decisions Raise Questions for Employers

Perkins Coie on

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

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