PLF at the US Supreme Court today

PLF attorney Joshua Thompson is at the U.S. Supreme Court today for oral argument in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action.  This case challenges the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, which voters enacted as Proposal 2 in 2006.  Like California’s Proposition 209, Proposal 2 prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against individuals in public contracting, education and employment on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, color or national origin.  The 6th Circuit struck down the statute, claiming that the proposal violated the Federal Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.  As we’ve noted many times, that argument—that an initiative prohibiting government from treating people differently on the basis of immutable characteristics—somehow violates the Federal Constitution’s prohibition on government treating people differently—is absurd.  For more background on the legal arguments, read PLF attorney Ralph Kasarda’s blog post from yesterday, or PLF’s amicus brief in this case, or check out this video.  You can follow Joshua at the court today on twitter here.