Montana-Led Coalition Seeks Supreme Court Review of DEI-Training Lawsuit

Event date: October 9, 2026 amicus filing | Source publication: Montana Department of Justice, October 9 | Site publication: October 10, 2026

Montana and other states submitted an amicus brief supporting former Colorado correctional officer Joshua Young’s request for Supreme Court review. Young alleges mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training fostered workplace hostility toward white employees. The coalition argues that employer-sponsored racial stereotyping can violate employment-discrimination law even when training occurs once.

Procedural status and response

The Supreme Court has not granted review in case 26-310. Lower courts dismissed Young’s claims for insufficient allegations of severe or pervasive workplace hostility. Those dismissals remain in place. The new brief supports allegations; it is not a judicial finding that racial discrimination occurred.

Colorado disputed that employees had to adopt the training’s beliefs. The appellate opinion noted instructions saying employees did not need to change their values or beliefs. Respondents waived their right to respond to the Supreme Court petition on October 6. No new Colorado response to the October 9 brief was located.

Why it matters: The petition concerns the limits of employer DEI training and legal protections against racial discrimination in the workplace.

Sources: Montana DOJ announcement and filed brief · Supreme Court docket, petition and lower-court opinions