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Grutter vs. Bollinger

Grutter is a White applicant who was ultimately denied admission to the University of Michigan Law School in the 1997. Grutter became the lead plaintiff after a few conservative state legislators who opposed affirmative action collected about 100 potential plaintiffs for a reverse discrimination challenge. In December 1997, Barbara Grutter filed suit claiming violation of the Equal Protection Act.

Outcome - On June 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan's affirmative action policy. Public universities and institutions of higher education across the nation are now allowed to take race into consideration along with other individualized factors in reviewing a students application. While race may not be the only factor, the court has specifically allowed any state board of admissions to consider race.