West Virginia v. B. P. J. · ¶198

Second, under strict scrutiny, States can use a classification such as race only if it proves that the “use of race is ‘narrowly tailored’—meaning ‘necessary’—to achieving that interest.” Id., at 207. The Court has interpreted that mandate to mean that if a State can achieve the same interest through other means, even if using race would allow it to achieve that interest in some (or even most) circumstances more effectively or with less expense, the State still cannot use race at all. See, e.g., Fisher v. University of Tex. at Aus tin, 570 U. S. 297, 312 (2013).

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