Supreme Court Rejects Heightened Evidentiary Requirement for Majority Groups in Title VII Cases

What You Need to Know: • Equal Protection Under Title VII: On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Title VII’s protections apply equally to all individuals, regardless of whether they are in a majority or minority group, reinforcing a plain-language interpretation of the statute. • DEI Implications and Legal Scrutiny: The decision comes amid increasing scrutiny of employer DEI initiatives, highlighting the need for programs to comply with Title VII’s equal treatment requirements for all protected groups. • More Changes on the Way? A concurring opinion questions whether the longstanding McDonnell Douglas standard should govern at summary judgment in Title VII cases, possibly foreshadowing more changes to come.

In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, the U