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University Of Texas’ Affirmative Action Program Rejected

1996

In Hopwood v. University of Texas Law School, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the University of Texas’ affirmative action program, which has lower thresholds for grades and LSAT scores for minority applicants than for white applicants, is unconstitutional. The court rejects the idea that a diverse student body is a “compelling” interest. The U.S. Supreme Court does not accept an appeal of the decision, leaving open the question of whether diversity is still reason enough to justify affirmative action programs.