Law firm Perkins Coie has argued that a lawsuit targeting its diversity fellowship program is irrelevant. This statement was made following a recent overhaul of the firm’s initiative. On Monday, the law firm stated in a filing to the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas that the revamped diversity program is now open to all first-year law students. It further emphasized that applicants are not asked or required to provide information about their race during the application process.
The lawsuit in question was filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, which claimed that Perkins Coie’s original fellowship program discriminated against a member who is “heterosexual, white and not disabled.” The law firm is currently asking the Northern District of Texas to deny the group’s request for a preliminary injunction.
Perkins Coie is also still engaged in a legal battle with activist Edward Blum’s group, which recently dropped a similar lawsuit against Morrison Foerster. This case was dropped after Blum stated he was “satisfied that this illegal policy was changed to include everyone, regardless of race and ethnicity.” Interestingly, Blum has not yet commented on why Perkins Coie’s changes, which appear to mirror those made by Morrison Foerster, are deemed as insufficient.
It should be noted that both Perkins Coie and Morrison Foerster were sued by the American Alliance for Equal Rights in August over fellowship programs that aimed to increase diversity among associates at both law firms. Subsequent to these lawsuits, both companies changed their fellowship eligibility criteria to use race and gender-neutral language.
The American Alliance has previously sued other institutions such as West Point Military Academy over comparable DEI initiatives. Changes in the private sector have not escaped their attention either. An injunction awarded on September 30 by the 11th Circuit Court temporarily halted a grant program by venture capital firm, Fearless Fund. This is detailed in another lawsuit that targets private-sector DEI initiatives.
To follow the case, refer to American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Perkins Coie, N.D. Tex., No. 3:23-cv-01877, 8/22/23.