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Equal Protection › Department of Justice (DOJ)

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”

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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

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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

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

New DOJ Guidance Identifies Unlawful DEI Practices That Could Result in Revocation of Federal Funding

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

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released new guidance to all federal agencies clarifying what types of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and policies would be considered illegal...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

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

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- 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

Woods Rogers

Supreme Court’s Skrmetti Decision Redefines Legal Landscape for Gender-Affirming Care for Youth

Woods Rogers on

On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark 6-3 decision in United States v. Skrmetti, directly addressing the constitutionality of state laws banning gender-affirming care for...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Transgender Care Ban

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In a widely awaited for decision, the Supreme Court in a 6-3 opinion authored by Justice Roberts held that a Tennessee law which prohibits certain medical treatments (puberty blockers and hormones) for transgender minors,...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

New Executive Order Seeks to Eliminate Disparate-Impact Liability

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On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order (EO) titled Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy.  This EO seeks to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in various contexts, arguing that...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

New Executive Order Directs Federal Agencies to Deprioritize Disparate Impact: What Employers Need to Know Now

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On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy.” The Order declares a sweeping new federal policy: “It is the policy of the United States to eliminate...more

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

DOJ Moves to Challenge Illinois Nonprofit Board Disclosure Law

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

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been granted judicial leave to intervene in the American Alliance for Equal Rights’ (AAER) suit against the State of Illinois challenging the state’s diversity, equity, and inclusion...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

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

Roetzel & Andress

U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance on DEI Programs in Schools Receiving Federal Funds

Roetzel & Andress on

The legality of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) Programs has come under immense scrutiny beginning with the change in presidential administration. On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued executive order 14173...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

Clark Hill PLC

Using the First Amendment to Uphold DEI Initiatives

Clark Hill PLC on

In Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 600 U.S. 181 (2023), the Supreme Court all but ended affirmative action and held, inter alia, that race-conscious admissions policies in higher...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

U.S. Department of Education Office Publishes Guidance on Race in Admissions, School Programming

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division have published a joint Dear Colleague Letter (Joint OCR and DOJ DCL) that, together with a Q&A, provides...more

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Complying with Students for Fair Admissions: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice Issue Joint Guidance for Institutions

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP on

On August 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) jointly issued guidance to help postsecondary schools comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc....more

Bilzin Sumberg

Enter the Fray: Florida Restricts Certain Foreign Ownership of Real Property

Bilzin Sumberg on

Lawsuit Against Florida Law Restricting Certain Foreign Ownership of Real Property Set for Hearing This Week, DOJ Supports but 12 States Oppose - On July 1, 2023, SB 264 (Chapter No. 2023-33, Laws of Florida) took effect....more

Hinch Newman LLP

Another U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Erodes Traditional FTC Enforcement Authority Amounting to a Win for Digital Advertisers

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On April 14, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court afforded defendants the ability to directly challenge the structural constitutionality and existence of the Federal Trade Commission (and the Securities and Exchange Commission) in...more

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Corporate Governance: 2022 Midyear Review

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer on

The first half of 2022 illuminated important trends in the corporate governance space. In recent months, there were notable developments in the enforcement of economic sanctions and export control measures, and the oversight...more

Mintz - Health Care Viewpoints

Seventh Circuit Adds to Circuit Split Over Standard for DOJ Dismissals in FCA Cases

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The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently decided a case that created a new standard to assess requests by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss declined qui tam (whistleblower) suits under the False Claims Act...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Axon Sues FTC Over Use of Administrative Adjudication in Merger Investigations

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On January 3, 2020, Axon Enterprises Inc. filed a complaint against the Federal Trade Commission in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona challenging the constitutionality of the FTC’s administrative...more

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