Victory! Federal Court Upholds Harvard’s Admissions Policy

Education, Racial Justice

Victory! Federal Court Upholds Harvard’s Admissions Policy

LCR Represents Diverse Group Of Students And Alumni Who Testified At Trial In Support Of Race-Conscious Admissions

Federal Judge Allison D. Burroughs issued a landmark ruling today in favor of Harvard University in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard. Today’s decision strongly reaffirms that colleges and universities may continue to use race as one of many factors in admitting a diverse student body, and that diversity in our institutions is a compelling interest that strengthens educational institutions and our country as a whole.

“Today’s decision recognizes the importance of diversity in university admissions, and that race-conscious admissions allow our schools to create vibrant, inclusive student bodies that bridge racial divides and cultivate greater cross-cultural understanding,” said Oren Sellstrom, Litigation Director of Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston. “In today’s increasingly global economy, such diversity is critical for innovation and success,” he added.

“In the current political climate, this decision stands as a powerful reminder that diversity is a fundamental pillar of our society. Instead of attacking diversity, we should embrace and celebrate it,” said Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director of Lawyers for Civil Rights. “All our children deserve access to higher education, and they should have an opportunity to learn with and from each other,” he added.

In this landmark case, Lawyers for Civil Rights and our legal partners represent a diverse group of students of color and alumni of color, many of whom are Asian-American, who testified in the federal trial on the importance of —and need for — diversity on college and university campuses. Our post-trial brief is available here.

The federal court’s Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in favor of Harvard University are available here, and the judgment is available here.

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