Facts
Law school applicants who were denied admission challenged race-conscious admissions policy of state university law school, alleging that the admissions policy encouraging student body diversity violated their equal protection rights.
The
US District Court held that the law school's consideration of
race and ethnicity in its admissions decisions was unlawful and enjoined
law school from using race as a factor in its admissions decisions.
Appeal
was taken.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the District Court's judgment
and vacated the injunction. Certiorari was granted.
Holding
- law school had a compelling interest in attaining a diverse student body; and
- admissions program was narrowly tailored to serve its compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body, and thus did not violate the Equal Protection Clause.
