The court did not rule out affirmative action as a whole. Instead, it acknowledged that universities can see racial diversity as an important goal. In one case, the court ruled that racial diversity can be considered a “compelling interest” of the university. In the case involving undergraduate admissions, the court ruled that a formal system of applying a numeric value to race in determining admissions went too far.

So where does that leave us? What do these split decisions say about this court? Has justice been served?

Guests:

David Savage, covers the Supreme Court for the Los Angeles Times

Randall Kennedy, professor at Harvard Law School, On Point News Analyst

Abigail Thernstrom, commissioner on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission

Jonathan Alger, Assistant General Counsel at the University of Michigan

David Cole, professor of law at Georgetown University