Does this mean that affirmative action is done? Oh no. No no no no no. Schools have been abandoning objective tests of academic potential as well as emphasis of a student’s grades precisely because they anticipated that this was coming. They are getting rid of all merit-based measures of a student — so that they can continue affirmative action admissions without leaving a paper trail behind.

Admissions will be based 100% on student essays, or, let’s be honest and call them Student Declarations of Grievance and Disadvantage, because that’s all they’ll be going forward.

And schools like Harvard will continue to rate Asian students as “lacking personality and interest,” because they need to find some excuse for denying the admission of academic standouts.

[Yes, but the Supreme Court recognized that line of evasion in the decision. Roberts wrote that such efforts will be liable for damages if they are used to create race-based admissions policies, and the outcomes will be what the court reviews for that purpose. It may take a couple of more defeats to curtail that impulse, of course. — Ed]