DOJ accuses Duke Law of racial discrimination against white, Asian applicants

ABC News (US)IndependentConservative4 hr. ago

The U.S. Justice Department has accused Duke University's Law School of violating the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned race-based affirmative action in college admissions. In a findings letter, the DOJ stated that Duke used race-neutral language while effectively considering race through proxies such as personal essays and first-generation status. The department claims that Black and Hispanic applicants were disproportionately admitted compared to white and Asian applicants with similar academic records. The DOJ also noted that rejected white and Asian applicants had higher median LSAT scores than admitted Black applicants. This follows similar allegations against Yale and UCLA medical schools, and the Trump administration has previously targeted undergraduate admissions for compliance with the Supreme Court decision.

Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the issue as a legal enforcement effort by the Trump administration against universities perceived to engage in racial discrimination, despite the Supreme Court's ban on race-based affirmative action. The emphasis on 'illegal discrimination' and the portrayal of universities as ev

The HillIndependentProgressive4 hr. ago

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Duke University School of Law engaged in racial discrimination against white and Asian applicants during the 2023, 2024, and 2025 admissions cycles. According to the DOJ's findings letter, the law school used 'diversity' essay prompts and other factors like first-generation status and Pell Grant eligibility as proxies for race to achieve racial diversity goals, violating the Supreme Court's 2023 decision limiting race-based admissions. The DOJ claims that Duke Law revised its admissions policies after the court ruling to maintain race-conscious outcomes, including instructing reviewers to flag essays discussing diversity and using non-racial indicators to indirectly influence admissions decisions. The university responded by stating it is committed to legal compliance and will review the findings.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the DOJ's allegations as a violation of federal law and emphasizes the discriminatory intent behind Duke Law's admissions practices. It highlights the use of race-conscious strategies under the guise of promoting diversity, aligning with progressive critiques of affirmative action