In a stunning turn of events, the anti-affirmative action group, American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), has withdrawn its Texas federal lawsuit against Perkins Coie LLP regarding the diversity fellowship program. The lawsuit was dropped following Perkins Coie’s elimination of the program’s previous requirement that applicants come from underrepresented groups. This sudden resolution comes hot on the heels of Perkins Coie’s declaration of intent to vigorously defend itself against the AAER lawsuit while also asserting its mootness, given recent changes to the diversity fellowship program.
Perkins Coie Diversity Suit : Firm’s Pledge to Diversity Prevails
Perkins Coie’s managing partner, Bill Malley, expressed the firm’s satisfaction with the resolution, stating, “As a firm, we have a long-standing and deeply rooted commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive workplace and legal profession. Our commitment remains steadfast.”
Representatives for AAER remained silent following the dismissal of the case.
Perkins Coie Diversity Suit : The Legal Battle Unfolds
AAER, led by conservative legal activist Edward Blum, previously sued both Perkins Coie and Morrison Foerster LLP, claiming that their diversity fellowship programs were discriminatory. The lawsuits contended that these programs, designed to provide underrepresented law students access to BigLaw, had been “racially discriminating against future lawyers for decades.” The complaints sought to declare the fellowship programs in violation of equal rights protections and to prohibit both firms from considering race when selecting fellows.
