News & Analysis as of

Supreme Court of the United States Reverse Discrimination Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I)

The United States Supreme Court is the highest court of the United States and is charged with interpreting federal law, including the United States Constitution. The Court's docket is largely discretionary... more +
The United States Supreme Court is the highest court of the United States and is charged with interpreting federal law, including the United States Constitution. The Court's docket is largely discretionary with only a limited number of cases granted review each term.  The Court is comprised of one chief justice and eight associate justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to hold lifetime positions. less -
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

SCOTUS Unanimously Rejects Heightened Burden for Majority-Group Discrimination Claims

On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of petitioner, Marlean Ames, a heterosexual woman, who commenced a reverse discrimination case against her former employer, the Ohio Department of Youth...more

Williams Mullen

Supreme Court Rejects Heightened Evidentiary Standards for So-Called “Reverse Discrimination” Claims

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On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that plaintiffs bringing discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) cannot be required to satisfy a heightened evidentiary...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

What Do Recent DEI Training-Focused Federal Agency Guidance and Court Decisions Mean for Employers?

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Two new technical-assistance documents jointly released by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) warn that common diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-training practices —...more

ArentFox Schiff

Supreme Court Resolves Conflict on Burden for ‘Reverse’ Discrimination Claims

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In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, No. 23-1039 (S. Ct. June 5, 2025), the US Supreme Court unanimously dispelled the concept of “reverse” discrimination, making clear that discrimination on the basis of a protected...more

Blank Rome LLP

Breaking—Supreme Court Unanimously Lowers Bar for “Reverse Discrimination” Claims: Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services...

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The U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark, unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, 605 U.S. ___ (2025) on June 5, 2025, fundamentally altering the landscape for “reverse discrimination” claims under...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Justices Reject Higher Standard for “Reverse Discrimination” Claims

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

The United States Supreme Court has held that the evidentiary standards for “reverse discrimination” claims under federal employment law must be the same as those set for claims brought by members of minority groups....more

WilmerHale

Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services: SCOTUS Simplifies Reverse Discrimination Claims

WilmerHale on

As widely expected, the Supreme Court’s June 5, 2025 decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services confirmed that a plaintiff alleging employment discrimination under Title VII cannot be held to a different,...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

U.S. Supreme Court Reconciles Circuit Split Regarding Standard for “Reverse Discrimination” Claims

On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, rejecting the “background circumstances” requirement multiple circuit courts of appeals have applied to Title...more

Gould + Ratner LLP

Ames Analysis: Reverse Discrimination Reversed

Gould + Ratner LLP on

On June 5, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, striking down the “background circumstances” requirement in so-called “reverse discrimination” cases. The Court held...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

2024 State AGs Year in Review - UPDATED 4/1/25

In 2024, state attorneys general (“State AGs”) focused on a broad variety of areas and industries including, in particular, emerging industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and privacy and social media protections....more

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

Distilling the Latest DEI Developments: Understanding Recent Federal Guidance and the Significance of the “Reverse” Discrimination...

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on

On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” aimed at ending illegal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and...more

McCarter & English, LLP

EEOC and DOJ Focus on “DEI-Related Discrimination”: What Should Employers Do Differently?

On March 19, 2025, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) issued two “technical assistance documents” that address potentially unlawful employment...more

Vedder Price

EEOC Technical Guidance Warns Against DEI-Related Discrimination at Work

Vedder Price on

On March 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued two technical assistance guidance documents (found here and here) focused on educating “the public about how well-established civil rights...more

Whiteford

Employment Law Update: Supreme Court Hears Argument on Reverse Discrimination Claim with Implications for DEI

Whiteford on

Just as employers are reconsidering their approach to DEI and the myriad of potential risks such policies could present under current administration enforcement priorities, the Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case...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

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

Cozen O'Connor

Democratic AGs Pen Letter Opposing Walmart’s Decision to End Diversity Initiatives

Cozen O'Connor on

A group of 13 Democratic AGs wrote a letter to Walmart’s President and CEO expressing concern about Walmart’s announcement that it will end certain aspects of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives....more

Brooks Pierce

Counting Down to the New Year: Ten “Need-to-Know” Labor and Employment Developments of 2024

Brooks Pierce on

2024 was yet another active year in the labor and employment landscape. While 2025 and the new administration could bring any number of changes to workplace laws and enforcement, the timing and extent of such changes is...more

Nilan Johnson Lewis PA

Reverse Discrimination and Pay Equity

Nilan Johnson Lewis PA on

Employers have seen a significant increase in reverse race and gender discrimination claims over the last four years. White and male employees are arguing that employer efforts to address historic race and gender inequities...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

The rise of “reverse” discrimination claims

Since the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admission, we have observed an increase in “reverse” discrimination claims where members of a majority group, such as whites or males, allege discrimination...more

Paul Hastings LLP

SCOTUS to Review Standard for Pursuit of Title VII Reverse Discrimination Cases

Paul Hastings LLP on

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, reverse discrimination...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

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

Husch Blackwell LLP

Still “Business as Usual”: Recent Challenges to Company DEI Efforts

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On the heels of the United States Supreme Court’s decision limiting affirmative action in college admissions, we have seen an increase in workers who do not belong to historically underrepresented demographic groups filing...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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

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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

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