What was the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Grutter v. Bollinger?

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Grutter v. Bollinger was significant in that it effectively upheld the use of affirmative action in university admissions, particularly affirming that race could be one of many factors considered in a holistic admissions process. This ruling directly contrasted with the earlier Hopwood v. Texas decision, which prohibited the consideration of race in admissions for public universities in Texas and set a precedent that limited affirmative action policies in the state.

By deciding in favor of Grutter, the Supreme Court provided a legal framework that allowed universities to consider race as part of their efforts to promote diversity, thus overturning the restrictive measures imposed by Hopwood. This ruling helped to reaffirm the role of affirmative action across the nation, allowing institutions to seek diverse student bodies, which included consideration of race, thereby demonstrating a clear departure from the limitations set forth by the earlier case.