Now Reading: US Justice Department Accuses Duke Law of Race-Based Admissions
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US Justice Department Accuses Duke Law of Race-Based Admissions
The US Justice Department has accused Duke University’s law school of unlawfully considering race in admissions, saying personal essays and first-generation status were used as proxies. In a findings letter, it claimed…
The Story in Brief
The US Justice Department has accused Duke University’s law school of unlawfully considering race in admissions, saying personal essays and first-generation status were used as proxies. In a findings letter, it claimed Black and Hispanic applicants were more likely to be admitted than white and Asian applicants with similar academic records. The department also said median LSAT scores in 2024 and 2025 were higher among rejected white and Asian applicants than admitted Black applicants.
Duke said it was reviewing the letter and remained committed to following the law. The department is seeking a settlement. Race-based affirmative action has been barred since a 2023 US Supreme Court ruling, though colleges may consider an applicant’s background and experiences.
The Indian Opinion
Claims that every diversity measure is unlawful can be as careless as claims that race never influences admissions. The Justice Department’s figures are allegations, not a court ruling, while Duke’s broad response does not answer the comparisons cited. The fair test is whether the school can show that essays and background factors were applied consistently, without racial preferences. A settlement or court finding will matter more than political declarations.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
