Procedural History
515 U.S. 200 (1995), U.S. Supreme Court
Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Peña is a landmark Supreme Court case that addressed the constitutionality of federal affirmative action programs under the Equal Protection Clause.
Source: 515 U.S. 200 (1995), U.S. Supreme Court
Action: Adarand Constructors challenged a federal contracting program that gave preference to minority-owned businesses.
Outcome: The District Court ruled in favor of Adarand, declaring the program unconstitutional.
Significance: This ruling was significant as it set the stage for further scrutiny of affirmative action programs under the Equal Protection Clause.
Action: The Tenth Circuit reversed the District Court's decision.
Outcome: The appellate court upheld the constitutionality of the federal program, applying a lower level of scrutiny.
Significance: This reversal underscored the divergent interpretations of the Equal Protection Clause regarding race-based classifications.
Action: The Supreme Court granted certiorari to consider the constitutionality of the Tenth Circuit's ruling.
Outcome: The Court agreed to hear the case, which was significant for its implications on affirmative action policies.
Significance: The Court's acceptance signaled a readiness to re-examine the legal standards applied to such cases.
Action: The Supreme Court delivered its opinion.
Outcome: The Court ruled that federal affirmative action programs must be subject to strict scrutiny.
Significance: This ruling established a new standard for evaluating government programs that classify individuals by race, tightening the requirements for justifying such policies.
At the time the Supreme Court heard the case, the procedural posture was one of review of a divided appellate court's decision that had reinstated a federal affirmative action program after it was initially struck down by the District Court.
The standard of review applied by the Supreme Court was strict scrutiny, which requires the government to show that racial classifications are necessary to achieve a compelling governmental interest and that they are narrowly tailored to meet that interest.
The Supreme Court reversed the appellate court's decision, thereby ruling that the federal affirmative action program violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.