Affirmative action supreme court

The Supreme Court ruled in two cases involving affirmative action programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

• The court passed on deciding the broader constitutionality of affirmative action, instead sending the cases back down to lower courts for further review.

• The rulings were narrow, focusing on procedural issues rather than issuing a broad ruling on affirmative action.

• Conservatives on the court hoped the cases would result in limiting or ending the use of race in college admissions, but they failed to get a majority for that position.

• The cases were brought by students who alleged they were discriminated against due to Harvard’s and UNC’s consideration of race in admissions.

• Supporters of affirmative action argue that it is still needed to promote diversity and remedy racial disparities in higher education.

• Critics of affirmative action argue that it amounts to unlawful discrimination against white and Asian American applicants.

In summary, while the Supreme Court rulings did not endorse affirmative action policies, they also did not put a definitive end to the consideration of race in college admissions. The issue now returns to lower courts for further review.