Michigan Appeals Court Overturns Ban on Affirmative Action in College Admissions

DETROIT (TriceEdneyWire.com) -  A federal appeals court has overturned a Michigan law that banned  the consideration of race and gender in college admissions. The court ruled June 29 that the ban was a constitutional violation and placed unfair burdens on racial and gender minorities.

The 2-1 decison in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the law, approved by voters in 2006. By placing an unfair burden on women and people of color, it violates the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment of the U. S. Constitution, the decision states.

The overturn re-opens long-held national debates over the merits of affirmative action in order to achieve an equal balance of qualified women and racial minorities in the classroom. Michigan will appeal the decision. Other states have similar bans, including Arizona, California, Nebraska and Washington state. However the June 29 decision only affects states in the 6th circuit jurisdiction, which includes Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.