Shayla Mombeleur offers insights on status of DEI initiatives following Supreme Court affirmative action decision
The full impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision ending race-based college admissions is still being debated – especially concerning DEI initiatives outside of academia.
Following the decision, litigants have filed numerous lawsuits challenging DEI programs impacting employment practices, government contracts, and bank lending.
Todd & Weld attorney Shayla Mombeleur, in an article published by The Bay State Banner, said, “We’re still at a moment where we’re still watching and learning. The most important thing is for people to still stand strong in their DEI practices [while] being thoughtful of the legal landscape.”
She told the publication that the Supreme Court’s decision has damaged programs in academia and the private sector designed to remove the barriers faced by people of color. She lauded the colleges and universities that reaffirmed their DEI stances while balancing the changes required by the decision.
Ms. Mombeleur, who concentrates her practice on criminal defense and government investigations, serves as Secretary of the Massachusetts Bar Association and as Co-Chair of the organization’s DEI Committee.