Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke is a significant landmark case in the United States’ legal history, dealing with affirmative action and equal protection under the law. The case was brought before the United States Supreme Court in 1978, and it continues to have a considerable impact on the way that affirmative action policies are challenged and assessed. This article provides a detailed overview of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, including when it happened, how it ended, the process, and how it influenced the United States legal system. Additionally, it covers ten fascinating facts about this historic case.

Background of the Case

Allan Bakke, a white male, applied to the University of California Medical School at Davis and was rejected in both 1973 and 1974. However, the university had a special admissions program that set aside 16 out of 100 seats for minority students, which did not consider the applicant’s grades, test scores, or experience. Bakke felt that the admissions program was unfairly giving preference to minority candidates over him and that he was being discriminated against based on his race. Bakke decided to bring the case to court, and it eventually made its way to the United States Supreme Court.

Proceedings of the Case

The case was heard before the Supreme Court in 1978. Initially, the case concerned the constitutionality of the University’s special admissions program, which was reserved for minority students. The Supreme Court rejected the program, declaring it unconstitutional because it discriminated against Caucasian applicants and violated the equal protection doctrine of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

However, the Supreme Court did not abolish affirmative action programs altogether, allowing for race to be included as one of several factors in holistic admissions processes. The Court also required that the use of affirmative action programs be subject to strict judicial scrutiny and that there be no racial quotas.

Outcomes of the Case

The Supreme Court’s decision in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke had two main outcomes. First, the Court struck down the University of California’s special admissions program, which set aside a particular number of spots for minority students. Second, the Court upheld the use of race as a factor in holistic admissions, effectively legalizing affirmative action programs in higher education.

Impact on the US Legal System

The decision in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke has had a lasting impact on the US legal system. Here are ten interesting facts about the case and its legacy:

1. Bakke was the first case to address affirmative action in higher education

2. The majority opinion stated that while a college could consider race as one of many factors in the admissions process, it could not use quotas

3. The case established the “strict scrutiny” standard for affirmative action programs in higher education and government employment.

4. The Court’s ruling affirmed the protection of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and affirmed its application to schools and universities.

5. The decision has had a significant impact on higher education, making colleges and universities take a more holistic approach to their admissions process and considering more than grades and test scores.

6. In subsequent years, the Court further refined the application of the strict scrutiny standard in a series of related cases.

7. The decision led to a rise in the number of legal challenges to affirmative action programs in higher education.

8. Bakke remains a significant, but somewhat controversial, decision in the ongoing debate over affirmative action policies in the United States.

9. The case is often cited by advocates both for and against affirmative action policies in higher education.

10. Despite its age, the Bakke decision remains critically relevant to contemporary debates over affirmative action, diversity, and equal protection in higher education.

In conclusion, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke is a significant landmark case in the United States’ legal history and remains relevant in contemporary debates about affirmative action policies, race, and diversity in higher education. The ruling in Bakke opened the door for greater diversity in educational institutions and influenced subsequent Supreme Court decisions. While the case continues to be the subject of ongoing legal challenges and criticism, it remains a pivotal point in the history of civil rights in America.

The Supreme Court Case, the University of California v. Bakke, serves a landmark trial that forever changed the legal landscape in America.

The case began when Allan Bakke applied to the University of California Davis School of Medicine on two separate occasions. The applications were delivered to the school in 1973 and 1974.

On the application, Bakke stated that he was a Caucasian male. Bakke was ultimately rejected both times.
After conducting his own research, Bakke discovered that other applicants, who were accepted to the school, had lower scores than he did.

Bakke believed that these individuals were accepted because they stated “minority status” on their respective applications. Bakke also discovered that students who were poorer than he was had a better chance of getting accepted even when his grades were better.

Bakke was very upset that he was rejected when students with worse scores were accepted. He was so upset, in fact, that he filed a lawsuit against the University of California. He filed the suit because he felt that the school was unfairly accepting students based on their race and poverty level. He claimed that the School had violated his 14th Amendment rights, which are awarded to all American citizens.

He also claimed that the school was violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that no ethnic or racial advantages should be granted to a particular group by any academic institution or program that receives government money. Bakke claimed that he was being discriminated against because he kept getting rejected.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke: The Case Profile

The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case took place on October 8, 1977. Bakke filed the suit, claiming the University was guilty of unfairly treating him because of his race. The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke was heard by the Supreme Court of the United States and decided on June 28th of 1978.

The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke: The Verdict

The United States Supreme Court in the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case ruled in favor of Bakke. The Court found that the University of California was guilty of violating both the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.