Scotus will hear Harvard, UNC affirmative action challenges

Lewis Powell's concurring opinion in 

Bakke v. Regents of University of California provided the thread -

`diversity' as an educational objective- by which affirmative action

has hung for forty five years.

 The process of retrenchment on affirmative action in higher education that began with the Bakke v. Regents of the University of California decision is likely to meet the guillotine in the Supreme Court this year.  Court watchers say that cert grants today will likely be heard in the fall.  

CERTIORARI GRANTED 20-1199 ) STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS V. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD ) 21-707 ) STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS V. UNIVERSITY OF NC, ET AL. The petitions for writs of certiorari are granted. The cases are consolidated, and a total of one hour is allotted for oral argument.