Department of Justice Accuses Duke Law School of Illegal Race Consideration in Admissions

The Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Duke University School of Law on August 6, 2026, of illegally using race as a factor in its admissions process. This accusation is part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to address race-based admissions in higher education. The DOJ's compliance review under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 found that the law school discriminated based on race in its admissions for the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that the admissions practices resulted in 'highly qualified white, Asian, and other students' being denied admission based on their race. Dhillon emphasized that using 'diversity' essay questions to identify preferred races for admission constitutes illegal discrimination. Duke University has acknowledged receipt of the findings letter and is currently reviewing it, stating its commitment to comply with the law. The DOJ's findings also indicated that Duke Law School's admissions process favored black and Hispanic applicants, highlighting a significant disparity in academic metrics among different racial groups. The department is seeking a voluntary resolution agreement with the school to ensure compliance with Title VI.