Supreme Court Grutter v. Bollinger upholds affirmative action in law school admissions

The Supreme Court rules 5-4 in Grutter v. Bollinger that the University of Michigan Law School's race-conscious admissions policy using race as one factor among many to achieve diversity does not violate the Equal Protection Clause. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's majority opinion affirms the diversity rationale established in Bakke, finding that achieving a diverse student body is a compelling governmental interest and that race-conscious admissions are narrowly tailored to that interest. The decision reaffirms Bakke's diversity principle and permits universities nationwide to consider race in admissions decisions. O'Connor notes in her opinion that such consideration might not be necessary 25 years in the future, foreshadowing future challenges.