{"id":2641608,"date":"2026-08-06T21:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T01:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/duke-law-school-illegally-considered-race-in-admissions-doj-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T22:01:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T02:01:26","slug":"duke-law-school-illegally-considered-race-in-admissions-doj-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/duke-law-school-illegally-considered-race-in-admissions-doj-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Duke Law School illegally considered race in admissions, DOJ says"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fduke-law-school-illegally-considered-race-in-admissions-doj-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2641608&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Department of Justice has accused Duke University School of Law of illegally using race as a factor in its admissions process, specifically in decisions for the classes of 2023 through 2025. The DOJ&#8217;s review found that the school&#8217;s practices resulted in discrimination against highly qualified white, asian, and other students, particularly through the use of race in essay questions to identify preferred candidates. This action is part of the Trump administration\u2019s broader effort to enforce the Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which banned affirmative action in higher education admissions.Duke University stated it is reviewing the findings and is committed to legal compliance. The DOJ aims to reach a voluntary resolution to ensure the law is followed and pointed out that the school\u2019s admissions favored black and Hispanic applicants, creating disparities in academic metrics among different racial groups. The investigation into discrimination by higher education institutions continues, with numerous other schools, including medical schools, being scrutinized under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a> accused Duke University School of Law on Thursday of illegally using <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/race\/\">race<\/a> as a metric in its admissions process, marking the latest Trump administration move to crack down on race-based admissions in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/higher-education\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"149\">higher education<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ said its Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 compliance review found that the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"552\">North Carolina<\/a> university\u2019s law school intentionally discriminated based on race in its admissions of the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon wrote in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\/media\/1456491\/dl\">findings letter<\/a> that the school\u2019s admissions practices led to \u201chighly qualified white, Asian, and other students\u201d being \u201cdenied admission on the basis of their race.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4678736\/duke-law-school-race-admissions-doj\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Duke Law School illegally considered race in admissions, DOJ says<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4677239\/youngest-black-professor-jason-arday-cambridge-resigns-university-allegations-plagiarism\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Youngest Black professor at Cambridge resigns as university investigates allegations of plagiarism<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/4676282\/minneapolis-public-schools-financial-mismanagement-fraud-budget-withheld-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Minneapolis Public Schools face mounting financial mismanagement concerns following fraud investigation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDuke Law School doesn\u2019t get a free pass to discriminate against white and Asian students simply because it thinks it has good intentions,\u201d Dhillon said in a statement. \u201cUsing \u2018diversity\u2019 essay questions to identify preferred races for admission is still illegal discrimination based on race, and this Department is committed to eliminating it everywhere we find it, including in our nation\u2019s law schools.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The announcement situates Duke Law School as the latest target of the Trump administration\u2019s effort to enforce the Supreme Court\u2019s 2023 <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2578872\/supreme-court-bans-affirmative-action-in-ruling-against-race-conscious-college-admissions-2\/\">Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard<\/a><\/em>  decision, in which the court ruled the use of race in admissions considerations illegal, effectively banning <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/affirmative-action\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2484\">affirmative action<\/a> in higher education.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Duke University spokesperson told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in a statement that the institution received the findings letter and is reviewing it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are reviewing the letter and its conclusions carefully. Duke is committed to complying with the law and will continue to do so in a manner that is consistent with our academic mission,\u201d the Duke University spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ\u2019s findings letter deemed that Duke Law School\u2019s admissions process bolstered the prospects of black and Hispanic applicants, noting a \u201csignificant disparity in objective academic metrics between black and Hispanic applicants compared with applicants from other racial categories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dhillon wrote that the department is seeking a \u201cvoluntary resolution agreement\u201d with the school to bring it into Title VI compliance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4603547\/doj-uc-davis-medical-school-race-based-discrimination\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4603547\">DOJ FINDS UC DAVIS MEDICAL SCHOOL GUILTY OF RACE-BASED DISCRIMINATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ has unveiled numerous investigations finding higher education institutions out of compliance with the Supreme Court\u2019s interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June, Dhillon announced the department would be investigating <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4596018\/doj-race-based-discrimination-medical-schools-investigations\/\">15 additional medical schools<\/a> over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-live-trump-meets-with-south-african-president-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"WATCH LIVE: Trump meets with South African president - Washington Examiner\">alleged race-based discrimination<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ: Duke Law illegally used race in admissions, says review<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2641609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP21056802628899-e1786064519438.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[40921,83810,38118,60852],"class_list":["post-2641608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-affirmative-action","tag-duke-law-school","tag-legal-controversy","tag-university-admissions"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP21056802628899-e1786064519438.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641608"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641612,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641608\/revisions\/2641612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}