Trump Administration Accuses UC Berkeley Law of Racial Discrimination in Admissions

<p>The Trump administration on September 10, 2026, accused the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law of favoring Black applicants while discriminating against Asian and White students. This action is part of a broader federal initiative targeting race-conscious admissions policies at universities.</p><p>The Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the Department of Education, determined that Berkeley Law violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal funds.</p><p>The DOJ stated, "The data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias against Asian and White applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of Black applicants." This assessment followed a compliance review initiated in March 2025, approximately two years after the Supreme Court's decision that impacted affirmative action programs used by many universities.</p><p>According to the DOJ's analysis, Black applicants in 2025 had "5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants." An examination of LSAT scores for admitted students in 2024 and 2025 revealed that 37% of Black admitted applicants scored below 99% of admitted White applicants.</p><p>Additionally, half of the admitted Black applicants had LSAT scores below 95% of the admitted White applicants. The DOJ's figures indicated that from 2021 through 2025, median LSAT scores showed a consistent disparity, with Black admits averaging around 165, while Asian and White admits averaged around 172, and Hispanic admits averaged around 169.</p><p>The DOJ noted, "The median Black admit consistently has an LSAT score about 5 points lower than the median white or Asian admits," in a letter to attorney Tania Faransso, representing the law school.</p><p>As of October 2025, Berkeley Law had 1,128 students enrolled, including 516 White, 293 Asian, 51 Black, and 130 Hispanic students.</p><p>In response to the allegations, Berkeley Law stated that its admissions decisions comply with federal law and Proposition 209, which prohibits affirmative action in public education in California. The school emphasized that it considers race-neutral factors, such as socioeconomic status and personal experiences, in its admissions process.</p><p>Berkeley Law asserted, "Our admissions policy is clear that race is not considered in any way in admissions decisions. Proposition 209, federal statutes, and the Supreme Court’s decisions do not preclude schools from pursuing diversity so long as they give no preferences based on race. Berkeley Law does not do so."</p><p>UC Berkeley’s central administration also affirmed its commitment to admitting students based on merit, not race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin, stating, "UC Berkeley will spare no effort to provide ample evidence showing that the university complies with all relevant laws, policies, and rules governing admissions."</p>