Judge Lawson upholds Michigan Prop. 2

U.S. District Court Judge David Lawson ruled that Michigan’s Prop. 2 does not violate the U.S. Constitution.

Lawson’s decision was a victory for CIR client Eric Russell who intervened in a legal challenge brought by a Michigan advocacy organization called “BAMN.” BAMN, later joined by the ACLU and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc., claimed that it was unconstitutional to prohibit the use of racial preferences across the board.

Russell contended that an amendment that prohibited racial discrimination across the board cannot violate the U.S. Constitution. Earlier in the case, Russell successfully petitioned the Sixth Circuit to reinstate Prop. 2 after Judge Lawson had enjoined its enforcement against Michigan colleges for six months.