Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, et al. v. Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts/rhode Island, Inc., et al.

Opinion summary

Etalia.ai summary of the majority opinion

The case involved a challenge to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's (MWRA) implementation of an affirmative action program for hiring minority and women-owned businesses in public construction projects. The Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts/Rhode Island, Inc., along with other plaintiffs, argued that the program violated the Equal Protection Clause by imposing racial quotas without sufficient evidence of past discrimination or narrow tailoring to remedy such discrimination. The Supreme Court evaluated whether MWRA’s policy met strict scrutiny standards, requiring it to be narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling governmental interest. Ultimately, the Court upheld MWRA's affirmative action plan as constitutional because it was designed based on substantial evidence demonstrating historical underrepresentation and barriers faced by minority contractors in public contracting opportunities.