In a disappointing blow to all DEI professionals, a California law known as AB 979 has been ruled unconstitutional by a judge in the state.
The law was designed to increase representation of underrepresented communities (including individuals who self-identify as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender).
In announcing his decision to block the state law from legally continuing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Terry Green said that even though diverse boards may be beneficial to corporations and good for business, the state has no business trying to mandate this diversity into existence and should have sought out other means to try and achieve their goals, including mandatory disclosure requests.
