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Equal Protection › Anti-Discrimination Policies

The Equal Protection Clause is a section of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution that provides that "no state shall...deny to any citizen within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the... more +
The Equal Protection Clause is a section of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution that provides that "no state shall...deny to any citizen within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Essentially, the Equal Protection Clause provides that the government must treat an individual the same way that it treats other individuals in the same circumstances. The 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause applies only to state governments, but the requirements of the clause apply to the federal government through the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment. less -
Wiley Rein LLP

DOJ Clarifies Administration’s Stance on What Constitutes “Illegal DEI”

Wiley Rein LLP on

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a memorandum titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (the Memorandum) that provides clarity on what the...more

Bracewell LLP

Diversity Programs Could Mean Defunding, New Attorney General Memorandum Warns

Bracewell LLP on

Federal law has long required recipients of federal funds to comply with anti-discrimination laws. Over the last decade, initiatives under the label Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) became a widespread vehicle for...more

McGuireWoods LLP

DOJ Issues Guidance to Recipients of Federal Funding for Compliance With Federal Antidiscrimination Laws

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On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination, warning that many programs and initiatives labeled as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion...more

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Attorney General Bondi Issues Guidance to Recipients of Federal Funding “Regarding Unlawful Discrimination”

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP on

While some aspects of the Guidance reflect longstanding interpretations of federal antidiscrimination law, it signals an important shift in enforcement priorities. The Guidance states that the use of race-neutral criteria is...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

DOJ Issues Sweeping Memorandum on Unlawful Discrimination

Husch Blackwell LLP on

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. attorney general released a new memorandum providing guidance on the application of federal antidiscrimination laws for recipients of federal funding—including private and public colleges and...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Attorney General Issues Memorandum on Unlawful Discrimination for Recipients of Federal Funds

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP on

- What is new: The Office of the U.S. Attorney General issued important guidance clarifying that any policy or practice distinguishing based on protected characteristics may violate federal antidiscrimination laws, including...more

Latham & Watkins LLP

DOJ Issues Guidance on “Unlawful Discrimination”

Latham & Watkins LLP on

The guidance reflects a key step in the administration’s broader strategy to root out DEI efforts in the private sector....more

Whiteford

Employment Law Update: U.S. Supreme Court Ends Double Standard: All Employees Get Equal Protection in Title VII Discrimination...

Whiteford on

On June 5, 2025, in a unanimous and highly anticipated decision, the U.S. Supreme Court in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, No. 23-1039, clarified a critical point in employment law: all employees—regardless of...more

Lerch, Early & Brewer

Supreme Court Clarifies: Title VII Protects

Lerch, Early & Brewer on

Earlier this month, the United States Supreme Court confirmed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 guarantees equal protection to all employees, even if they belong to majority or minority groups....more

Akerman LLP - HR Defense

Supreme Court Eliminates “Background Circumstances” Test in Reverse Discrimination Cases: What Employers Need to Know

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In a landmark ruling significantly changing how workplace discrimination claims are litigated, the U.S. Supreme Court has removed a major barrier for plaintiffs alleging “reverse discrimination” claims under Title VII. In...more

Lathrop GPM

U.S. Supreme Court Says “Reverse Discrimination” Is Equally Unlawful - Clarifies Standard for Majority-Group Plaintiffs in Title...

Lathrop GPM on

The U.S. Supreme Court today swung wide open the door for all persons who experience employment discrimination based on their race, color, religion, sex or national origin to bring suit under Title VII of the 1964 Civil...more

Meyers Nave

Ninth Circuit Rules on Caste as a Protected Class in CSU’s Anti-Discrimination Policy

Meyers Nave on

On March 12, 2025, the Ninth Circuit issued its decision in Kumar v. Koester, dismissing a constitutional challenge to a university’s anti-discrimination policy that added “caste” as a protected class. Effective January 1,...more

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

Iowa Governor Signs Law Making State the First to Remove Gender Identity Protections From Civil Rights Code

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

On February 28, 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation making the state the first to remove antidiscrimination protections for gender identity from its civil rights code....more

Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC

Federal District Court Issues Partial Injunction of DEI Executive Orders

Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC on

On Feb. 21, 2025, the federal district court for the District of Maryland issued a preliminary injunction partially enjoining two of President Trump’s executive orders: Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and...more

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

‘What Is a Woman?’ Alabama Governor Signs Bill Declaring There Are Only Two Sexes

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

On February 13, 2025, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law Senate Bill 79 / Act 2025-3, declaring that there are only two sexes, male and female. Originally introduced on February 4, 2025, the legislation amends Alabama...more

Allen Matkins

Does Chicago's Municipal Code Make Everyone A Minority?

Allen Matkins on

Recent posts have discussed a registration statement filed Bally's Chicago, Inc. for an offering that would impose a stockholder qualification based on race, gender and ethnic status.  This qualification requirement is...more

CDF Labor Law LLP

Attorney General Issues Memo Stating that Illegal DEI and DEIA Programs in Private Sector Will Be Prosecuted

CDF Labor Law LLP on

The day after her nomination was confirmed last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum to all Department of Justice employees on Wednesday, February 5th, stating that the USDOJ’s Civil Rights Division will begin...more

Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

Black History Month: Remembering the NJ-Born Physician Who Became the First Black Lawyer Admitted to Practice before the Supreme...

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Born in Elsinborough Township in Salem County, New Jersey on October 13, 1825, John S. Rock was a person with amazing talents. After years of working as a physician, for health reasons he turned to the practice of law and in...more

Paul Hastings LLP

The Defending Women Executive Order Presents Potential Clash Between Federal and State Antidiscrimination Law

Paul Hastings LLP on

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” (Defending Women EO). The Defending Women...more

Venable LLP

Illinois Law Requiring Certain Not-For-Profits to Disclose Demographic Data Challenged in Federal Court

Venable LLP on

Illinois' General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act (Act) was amended to begin requiring certain Illinois not-for-profits to annually report on the demographics of their governing bodies as of January 1, 2025....more

Offit Kurman

The Impact of Transgender Executive Order on New York Residents

Offit Kurman on

On January 20th, President Trump issued an executive order entitled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Trust to the Federal Government.” The executive order included provisions for the...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

The Trump Transformation – Major Shifts in EEOC and Employment Law

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP on

Less than 24 hours after assuming the presidency, Donald Trump announced significant changes in the leadership and focus of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), as well as other policy changes which will...more

Franczek P.C.

President Trump Signs Executive Order Requiring Sex-Based Classifications

Franczek P.C. on

On January 20, 2025, one of President Trump’s first actions as the president of the United States was signing an Executive Order proclaiming that the U.S. government only recognizes two sexes: male and female. The order goes...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Religious Institutions Update: July 2024

Holland & Knight LLP on

Vaccine Exemption Policy Requiring Citation to Official Doctrine Violates First Amendment Madison Houghton and Nathan A. Adams IV In Does 1-11 v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. of Colorado, 100 F. 4th 1251 (10th Cir. 2024), former...more

Rumberger | Kirk

Should Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies Vanish After Landmark Supreme Court Ruling?

Rumberger | Kirk on

Last June, the United States Supreme Court held in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll that affirmative action policies at universities violate the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause...more

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