Reverse discrimination lawsuits are common, but there is little court precedent on the legality of whole diversity programs. The Supreme Court in a 1979 ruling upheld a chemical company's policy that at least half of its trainees for skilled craft positions be Black. By calling out specific admissions policies, such as giving "pluses" to minority students, the court's decision is likely to embolden critics who claim workforce diversity programs similarly give unfair advantages to certain groups. The Pfizer case was brought by Do No Harm, a conservative activist group that has challenged several diversity programs in healthcare. Those broad policies are likely insulated from legal challenges, according to Doug Brayley, a Boston-based partner at law firm Ropes & Gray.

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Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Gray, Thursday’s, John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, “, ”, Dan Morenoff, George Floyd, Andrea Lucas, Lucas, Donald Trump, Roberts, Edward Blum, Blum, Doug Brayley, ” Brayley, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, REUTERS, American Civil Rights, Opportunity Commission, Republican, Democratic, Pfizer Inc, Pfizer, Conservative, Gray, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington , U.S, Boston, Albany , New York