Key facts
- The Justice Department accused Duke University School of Law of unlawfully considering race in admissions.
- The DOJ stated that factors like personal essays were used as proxies for race.
- The department found that Black or Hispanic applicants were more likely to be admitted than white or Asian applicants with similar academic credentials.
- The DOJ is seeking a settlement with Duke Law.
- Similar allegations were previously made against Yale and UCLA medical schools.
- The Education Department is investigating San Jose State and San Francisco State universities over pro-Palestinian protests and alleged antisemitism.
The Justice Department has accused Duke University's law school of unlawfully considering race in its admissions process, alleging that factors such as personal essays were used as proxies for race. The department stated that Black or Hispanic applicants had a substantially higher likelihood of admission compared to white or Asian applicants with identical academic credentials. The DOJ is seeking to reach a settlement with Duke Law, which is reviewing the findings letter and affirming its commitment to legal compliance.
This action is part of a broader trend of increased scrutiny of higher education institutions by the Trump administration. Similar allegations regarding race-based admissions practices have previously been made against the medical schools at Yale University and the University of California, Los Angeles. President Trump has been critical of diversity initiatives, viewing them as discriminatory against white and Asian applicants.
In parallel, the Education Department is investigating San Jose State University and San Francisco State University in response to complaints about their handling of pro-Palestinian protests. These probes stem from allegations that the universities failed to adequately address concerns of antisemitism, including hostility towards Jewish students and displays of antisemitic graffiti.