The Justice Department and the Department of Education announced Wednesday that a joint investigation has found evidence that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law uses race, essay prompts and other tactics to give Black applicants a significant advantage while disadvantaging white and Asian candidates. The probe is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to end unlawful race‑based preferences in higher education.
Administration’s rationale
President Trump has repeatedly warned that diversity initiatives that prioritize race undermine merit and discriminate against white students and men. The administration argues that the law school’s admissions practices violate federal civil‑rights law and that the school must demonstrate compliance with the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.
University’s response
Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley Law, maintains that the school’s admissions policy does not consider race. He said, “Our admissions policy is clear that race is not considered in any way in admissions decisions.” The university’s central administration added that it will “spare no effort to provide ample evidence” showing compliance with all relevant laws, policies and rules governing admissions.
Data cited by the administration
The Trump administration highlighted enrollment figures from October 2025 that show 1,128 law students, of whom 516 were white, 293 Asian and 51 Black. According to the administration, Black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants in 2025, indicating a strong bias against white and Asian candidates.
Legal backdrop
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down race‑conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina set a precedent for the current challenge. The administration’s action follows other recent probes of universities over diversity initiatives, pro‑Palestinian protests, transgender policies and climate programs, all framed as protecting free speech, due process and academic freedom.
Next steps
The Justice Department said it is seeking a voluntary resolution agreement with the law school. If an agreement cannot be reached, the administration may pursue further enforcement actions. Critics argue that diversity programs address historic inequities, but the administration contends that merit‑based admissions are the only constitutionally sound approach.
As the investigation proceeds, the UC Berkeley School of Law will be under pressure to provide detailed admissions data and demonstrate that its policies comply with federal law. The outcome could have implications for other law schools and universities that employ race‑aware admissions criteria.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
