 In addition, the EEOC may make its own determination on cases rather than taking these to court.These decisions do not carry the weight of case law, but the Supreme Court does consider the weight of the EEOC opinions as the EEOC "constitute[s] a body of experience and informed judgment to which courts and litigants may properly resort for guidance".The nature of what protected classes under § 2000e-2(a)(1) have been refined through case law over the years.