A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Missouri alleging Starbucks‘s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies violated federal and state law, finding state officials’ claims were too broad to proceed in court.
U.S. District Judge John Ross, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, granted the coffee giant’s request to toss the lawsuit after finding that Missouri “did not point to even a single Missouri resident who lacked ‘Starbucks’ preferred racial or sex characteristics’ and suffered an adverse employment action as a result.”
“The Court cannot reasonably draw the inference that any of them have been harmed simply because of Defendant’s alleged DEI policies, as Plaintiff leaves to the imagination the actual enforcement and implementation of these policies,” the Thursday ruling reads.
“Plaintiff failed to allege that any actual Missouri residents applied for an open position in Missouri and were rejected, were passed over for promotion, were disciplined or demoted unfairly, or tried and failed to take advantage of any other benefit of employment with Defendant because of a protected characteristic,” Ross continued.
Ross explained in his ruling that the “minimal allegations” brought forward by Missouri in its lawsuit are “devoid of non-conclusory and non-speculative allegations establishing any actual, concrete, and particularized injuries to Missouri citizens,” and for that reason, “dismissal is warranted.”
“Plaintiff fails to allege any actual adverse employment action undertaken as a result of unlawful discrimination, and the policies and goals described do not confer employment opportunities to one protected class at the expense or to the exclusion of another,” Ross said in his ruling.
“Plaintiff’s reliance on allegations that Defendant adopted certain alleged policies does nothing to establish actual justiciable claims without any allegations as to how those policies were actually enforced in a way that violated any law,” the ruling continues.
Missouri could appeal the ruling dismissing its lawsuit to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
The lawsuit was originally filed against Starbucks by then-Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in February 2025. Bailey left his position as the top prosecutor in the Show Me State in August 2025 to become co-deputy director of the FBI.
“Racism has no place in Missouri,” Bailey said when the lawsuit was filed. “We’re filing suit to halt this blatant violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act in its tracks.”
Bailey pointed to Starbucks’s race-based employment practices and programs as violating both state and federal antidiscrimination laws. The lawsuit was one of several in recent years targeting DEI programs and hiring practices by private companies.
The Trump administration has been a vocal opponent of DEI programs, alleging they unlawfully discriminate by race. The administration has issued various orders revoking DEI within the federal government, while also targeting DEI practices in private companies through lawsuits and other actions.
In their latest effort against DEI, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed an order in federal court seeking to enforce a subpoena for Nike to hand over documents related to allegations it “discriminated against white workers.”