The Department of Justice has concluded that Duke University School of Law violated federal law by using race-based admissions practices, even after the Supreme Court struck down such policies.
WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) determined that Duke University School of Law intentionally discriminated against white and Asian applicants based on race.
DETAIL: The DOJ announced on Thursday that Duke University School of Law provided preferential treatment to Black and Hispanic candidates during admissions between 2023 and 2025. This practice violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which barred race-conscious college admissions. Internal documents and admissions data uncovered by the DOJ reveal the university explicitly intended “to discriminate against all racial groups except Black and Hispanic applicants, to accept more Black and Hispanic applicants.” The school used mechanisms such as “diversity” essay questions and other proxies for race to advance diversity goals—concealing these practices as race-neutral measures in internal communications. The DOJ stated that highly qualified white, Asian, and other students were denied admission due to their race. Investigations also identified significant LSAT score disparities: In 2025, the median score of admitted Black applicants was 166, compared to a median score of 173 for both white and Asian applicants. The DOJ found that a Black applicant with similar credentials was roughly 3.5 times more likely to be admitted than an Asian applicant.
KEY QUOTE: “Duke Law School doesn’t get a free pass to discriminate against white and Asian students simply because it thinks it has good intentions… Using ‘diversity’ essay questions to identify preferred races for admission is still illegal discrimination based on race, and this Department is committed to eliminating it everywhere we find it, including in our nation’s law schools.” – Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General
IMPACT: The DOJ seeks a voluntary resolution agreement with Duke to align admissions practices with federal law. If the university refuses compliance, enforcement through courts may follow. This case represents another effort in President Donald J. Trump’s administration to address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
