Gurin provided testimony in the 2003 U.S. Supreme CourtAffirmative Action case of ''Grutter v. Bollinger'', involving the University of Michigan, which ultimately deemed the university's affirmative action policies to be constitutional. Gurin was honored by the American Psychological Foundation with the 2010 Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement. Her award citation stated, "Her development of a theoretical rationale for the educational benefits of diversity, and supporting empirical analysis, played a pivotal role in the University of Michigan’s legal defense of its admission policies."