US Justice Department Rules UCLA Law School Used Race Illegally in Admissions

The US Justice Department announced Thursday that the law school at the University of California, Los Angeles, broke the law by considering race in admissions. ## Findings And Reactions The investigation showed the law school discriminated against white and Asian American students by favoring Black and Hispanic applicants in the incoming classes for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Investigators found that admitted Black applicants had a lower average LSAT score than admitted white applicants. The department also stated that law school staff told applicants how to reveal their race in essays during recruitment events like the Diversity Admissions Open House. Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said the school runs a two-tiered admissions system with academic standards that change based on skin color. In response, the UCLA School of Law released a statement defending its merit-based review process and stating it complies with all applicable laws.

Broader Crackdown

This finding follows a similar ruling against the university's medical school and comes as President Donald Trump's administration increases scrutiny on college admissions. The administration has also accused the UC Berkeley Law School and the UC San Diego medical school of illegal discrimination against white and Asian applicants. Affirmative action has been illegal since a 2023 Supreme Court ruling, though colleges are allowed to assess how personal backgrounds reflect broader characteristics. Trump argues that colleges use personal statements and other methods as proxies to consider race, which conservatives view as illegal discrimination. The Trump administration also previously sued the main UCLA campus over its response to antisemitic harassment allegations. This latest finding could lead to a voluntary resolution or potential legal action if compliance is not reached.

Context

Affirmative action refers to policies aimed at increasing opportunities for historically underrepresented groups in education and employment. California voters banned affirmative action in state public universities through a ballot measure in 1997. The ongoing federal investigations reflect a wider legal and political debate over how colleges evaluate student applications following the 2023 Supreme Court ban.