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Source: Fox News
Summary
The Trump administration accused the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law of racial discrimination in admissions, claiming it favored Black applicants while disadvantaging Asian and White students. The Department of Justice and Department of Education found the school in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The allegations followed a compliance review launched in 2025, after the Supreme Court limited affirmative action. Data showed Black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than White applicants. Berkeley Law denied the claims, stating its admissions policy complies with federal law and Proposition 209.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The Justice Department accuses a law school of racial bias.
Data shows Black applicants have higher admission odds than White applicants.
Law school denies the claims and says it follows federal law.
Another legal battle over race and admissions plays out in the same way.
Author: Evan Null
Trump’s Latest Move Against Race-Conscious Admissions
The Trump administration has once again targeted race-conscious admissions policies, this time at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. The Department of Justice and the Department of Education accused the school of favoring Black applicants while disadvantaging Asian and White students. The allegations came after a compliance review launched in March 2025, following the Supreme Court’s decision that limited affirmative action programs.
Findings and Data
The DOJ found that Black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than White applicants. An analysis of LSAT scores for admitted students in 2024 and 2025 showed that 37% of Black admitted applicants scored below 99% of White applicants. The median LSAT scores for Black admits were consistently lower than those of White and Asian admits, according to the DOJ.
Rejection of the Allegations
Despite the allegations, Berkeley Law rejected the claims, stating that its admissions policy complies with federal law and Proposition 209. The school emphasized that race is not considered in admissions decisions and that diversity is pursued through race-neutral factors. The school also reiterated its commitment to admitting students based on merit, not race, sex, or ethnicity.
Context and Legal Background
California had already banned affirmative action in public education under Proposition 209, enacted in 1996. The Supreme Court’s decision in 2025 struck a major blow to affirmative action programs used by many universities. The DOJ’s actions are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge race-conscious admissions policies across the country.
Continuation of a Legal Trend
The case against Berkeley Law is part of a growing trend of legal challenges against race-conscious admissions. The Justice Department has also targeted other institutions, including UCLA, for alleged discrimination. These cases reflect a broader political and legal debate over the role of race in higher education admissions and the interpretation of civil rights laws.
