U.S. DOJ Joins Lawsuit Over Race in UCLA Med School
The U.S. Justice Department announced it is joining a lawsuit that alleges the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA unlawfully considers race as a factor in its medical school admissions process. The federal intervention marks an escalation in legal challenges targeting diversity practices at elite higher-education institutions.
The lawsuit was originally filed by advocacy groups, including Students for Fair Admissions and Do No Harm. These organizations argue that the medical school’s admissions approach gives undue preference to certain racial groups, violating both California state law and federal constitutional protections.
California’s Proposition 209, passed in 1996, prohibits public institutions from using race in admissions decisions.
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UCLA and the broader University of California system maintain that, while they collect race and ethnicity information for statistical purposes, this data is not used in admissions decisions.
A university spokesperson emphasized adherence to both state and federal anti-discrimination laws but declined to comment further due to pending litigation.
Allegations and Legal Context
Claims of Racial Consideration
In court filings, U.S. Justice Department attorneys argue that UCLA’s admissions process amounts to a “systemically racist approach” that illegally privileges Black and Latino applicants over white and Asian American applicants, contrary to both the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended race-conscious admissions at other universities.
The lawsuit also accuses the medical school of pursuing “racial balancing”-seeking a class composition reflective of California’s broader demographics rather than admissions based on merit alone.
DOJ’s Position and Evidence
In its intervention, the Department of Justice asserts that analyses of admissions data, such as median Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores, suggest differential standards that disadvantage certain applicants based on race. The DOJ’s press release labeled the alleged practices unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Broader Debate Over Affirmative Action
This legal action reflects a broader national debate following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision outlawing race-based affirmative action policies in higher education. The case continues conversations about diversity, equity, and legal compliance across U.S. colleges and universities, particularly in selective programs like medical schools.