Feds Accuse Berkeley Law of Racial Admissions Bias

The Justice and Education Departments allege that UC Berkeley School of Law discriminated against white and Asian applicants while favoring Black applicants, in violation of federal civil rights law and the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling barring race-conscious college admissions. Investigators say the school continued using race, targeted essay prompts, identity-based grouping and other methods to pursue diversity goals, citing data showing that Black applicants had substantially higher acceptance odds than similarly qualified white applicants. Justice Department officials also pointed to public comments by Dean Erwin Chemerinsky as evidence that the school sought ways to preserve race-conscious outcomes, allegations he and the university deny. Berkeley Law says race is not considered in admissions and that the university will provide evidence of compliance. The findings are part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to dismantle diversity initiatives in higher education, and federal officials are seeking a voluntary resolution with the school.