572 U.S. 291 (2014)
Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action is a monumental decision by the Supreme Court that addresses the contentious issue of affirmative action in the United States.
Does a state constitutional amendment that prohibits race-based preferences in admissions decisions at public universities violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
The Equal Protection Clause does not prohibit Michigan voters from amending their Constitution to ban affirmative action based on race in public university admissions if the process is equally open to all and does not deprive individuals of rights on the basis of race.
The Supreme Court held that the Michigan constitutional amendment was constitutional, upholding the right of voters to determine governmental policies through the democratic process.
Schuette reaffirms the states' rights to design policies through the democratic process, emphasizing that such decisions are left to voters unless there is a clear violation of constitutional rights. It stresses the constitutional neutrality regarding affirmative action, directing focus on procedural equality. The case is pivotal for law students as it intricately explores the interplay between state rights, voter initiatives, and the Equal Protection Clause, particularly highlighting the boundaries of judicial intervention in democratic processes.