DOJ Claims UCLA Law Still Uses Race in Admissions
Justice Department alleges UCLA Law continues to use race in admissions despite Supreme Court rulings.
2 min read
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that universities could no longer use race as a direct factor in admissions. Three years later, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that the UCLA School of Law still uses race in its admissions process, despite the ruling. According to the DOJ, the law school employs a two-tiered admissions system where the academic bar for acceptance shifts based on an applicant’s race.
DOJ Finds Racial Disparities in Admissions
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated that UCLA Law’s admissions process appears to favor white and Asian applicants over Black and Hispanic applicants. The DOJ claims that Black applicants had about seven times the admission odds compared to otherwise equivalent white applicants in 2025, while Hispanic applicants had roughly twice the odds. The median LSAT score for admitted Black students was 168, compared to 172 for white students, and this score was also the median for white and Asian applicants who were rejected.
UCLA Law’s Admission Policy and DOJ’s Concerns
UCLA Law’s own admission policy emphasizes a holistic review process, placing substantial weight on grades and standardized test scores while also considering achievements, work experience, public service, leadership, hardship, and other lawful factors. However, the DOJ argues that the evidence shows UCLA Law used race as a hidden advantage, which is illegal under federal law.
Internal Communications and Admissions Practices
The DOJ points to internal communications and admissions materials that suggest the law school continued to use race in its admissions process. For example, an email sent before the Supreme Court’s ruling indicated that changes in the law would not affect UCLA Law. After the ruling, staff at a diversity admissions event explained how applicants could reveal their racial background through essays and diversity statements.
Legal and Institutional Responses
UCLA Law has rejected the DOJ’s findings, stating that it complies with all applicable laws, including California’s Proposition 209, which bans race-based admissions. The school describes its admissions process as comprehensive and merit-based. However, the DOJ is seeking a voluntary agreement to change UCLA Law’s practices, and if negotiations fail, it may file a lawsuit.
Broader Implications
The DOJ’s findings raise broader concerns about how universities continue to use race in admissions despite the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Court left some room for universities to consider individual experiences, but it explicitly stated that race could not be used as a reason for giving one applicant an advantage over another. If the DOJ’s findings are upheld, it could set a precedent for how universities must adjust their admissions practices moving forward.
Source: PJ Media
