The justices overturned all three of its decisions that they reviewed.
In 1997, the justices overturned Congress' first such effort.
But in 1990, by a 5-to-4 vote, the justices overturned that measure, too.
Even justices who value precedent, as most do, sometimes overturn existing case law with which they disagree.
The Justices today overturned that part of the ruling.
But it did not ask the justices to overturn the 1978 landmark ruling that allowed race to be used as a "plus factor."
Ohio and seven other states filed a brief on Iowa's behalf, urging the justices to overturn the decision.
A number of news organizations had filed briefs in the case, urging the Justices to overturn the Florida state court decisions.
In their last term, the Justices reviewed 28 Ninth Circuit decisions and overturned 27 of them.
Many business groups filed briefs urging the Justices to overturn the decision, as did the Clinton Administration.