Examining Discriminatory Admissions Practices at Duke Law School: Title VI Violations and Diversity Goals
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division recently revealed that Duke University School of Law engaged in discriminatory practices based on race in its admissions process for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 incoming classes. This conduct violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The Department found that Duke Law intentionally focused on racial diversity in admissions, using essay questions and applicant characteristics to advance its diversity goals.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon emphasized that Duke Law cannot discriminate against white and Asian students under the guise of promoting diversity. The investigation uncovered that Duke Law revised its Mission Statement to prioritize a "diversity of perspective and experience" in its admissions process. Admissions reviewers were instructed to tag responses related to diversity and specific applicant characteristics, potentially linked to race, despite claims that they did not see racial demographic data.
The investigation revealed that black or Hispanic applicants had a higher chance of admission to Duke Law compared to white or Asian applicants with similar academic qualifications. In cases where qualifications differed, the disparity was even more pronounced, with rejected white and Asian applicants in 2024 and 2025 having higher median LSAT scores than admitted black applicants.
As recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools must adhere to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to monitor compliance with Title VI and the prohibition on race-conscious admissions established in the SFFA case. Settlement negotiations will be pursued to rectify any violations in admissions practices, with legal action being taken if necessary.
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