Barbara E. Grutter

Barbara E. Grutter was involved in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in 2003, known as Grutter v. Bollinger. She was a law school applicant who challenged the University of Michigan's admissions process, arguing it unfairly considered race as a factor. The Court ultimately upheld the school's use of race as one part of a holistic review, affirming that diversity in education is a compelling interest. The case clarified how schools can consider race responsibly to promote diversity, balancing individual fairness with societal benefits, while emphasizing that such policies must be narrowly tailored and carefully implemented.