Supreme Court Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ends race-conscious college admissions

The Supreme Court rules 6-3 in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard University and University of North Carolina violate the Equal Protection Clause. Chief Justice John Roberts writes that admissions programs must treat students as individuals and cannot simply award points or preferences based on race. The decision overrules Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) and Bakke's diversity rationale, holding that the Equal Protection Clause does not permit universities to consider race. Justice Clarence Thomas' concurrence attacks affirmative action comprehensively. The ruling eliminates 45 years of legal authority for race-conscious diversity initiatives in higher education, marking a watershed moment in civil rights law and triggering a nationwide shift away from affirmative action.