Supreme Court likely to uphold affirmative action ban
The Supreme Court is currently evaluating the University of Michigan’s current ban on affirmative action, and most of the justices appear to agree that it should be upheld.
Several of them expressed doubts that the constitutional amendment violates minorities’ equal protection rights.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Anthony Kennedy all questioned why a state’s voters should not be able to change affirmative action policies, just as any other level of school or state government can. Justice Clarence Thomas’ vote for the ban is virtually assured. Among those five, only Kennedy appeared torn during Tuesday’s oral arguments, but his sharp questioning of lawyers opposing the ban seemed to indicate that he is more likely to align with the court’s conservative wing.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg appeared to be in opposition of Michigan’s ban.
The ruling doesn’t just affect the state of Michigan. Florida, Washington, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska and New Hampshire also ban affirmative action and are expected to follow suit on the ruling.
Those in opposition of the ban have been waiting on this ruling for a decade after two previous ruling by the court, one that struck down the university’s point system that included race, and another that upheld the law school’s consideration of race.
Thoughts on the vote?
If the justices decide to uphold the ban, will it be a step back in blacks having a fair shot at higher education?
Sound off below!
