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Grutter v. Bollinger

Grutter v. Bollinger

Introduction

The Grutter v Bollinger case was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that addressed affirmative action in higher education. The case involved the question of whether the University of Michigan Law School’s use of race as a factor in admissions decisions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court’s decision in Grutter v Bollinger upheld the law school’s affirmative action policy and had a significant impact on the use of race in higher education admissions.

Background

In 1997, the University of Michigan Law School adopted an admissions policy that sought to achieve a diverse student body by considering race as one of many factors in the admissions process. The policy was challenged by Barbara Grutter, a white Michigan resident who had been denied admission to the law school. Grutter argued that the school’s use of race in admissions decisions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case to determine whether the University of Michigan Law School’s affirmative action policy was constitutional.

The Court’s Decision

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that the University of Michigan Law School’s use of race as a factor in admissions decisions was constitutional. The Court emphasized the importance of diversity in higher education and held that the law school’s policy was narrowly tailored to achieve that goal.

The Court also rejected Grutter’s argument that the law school’s affirmative action policy discriminated against her as a white applicant. The Court held that the law school’s consideration of race was part of a holistic review process that considered many factors besides race, and that the policy did not amount to a quota system or a mechanical formula.

Impact and Legacy

The Grutter v Bollinger decision had a significant impact on the use of race in higher education admissions. The decision upheld the idea that diversity is a compelling state interest that may be pursued through the consideration of race in admissions decisions. The decision also provided guidance on the proper use of affirmative action in higher education and emphasized the importance of narrowly tailored policies that consider many factors in the admissions process.

The decision in Grutter v Bollinger has been cited in numerous subsequent cases related to affirmative action in higher education and continues to shape the legal landscape of race and admissions. The decision remains controversial today, with some arguing that affirmative action policies unfairly advantage certain groups at the expense of others.

Conclusion

The Grutter v Bollinger case was a landmark decision in the area of affirmative action in higher education. The decision upheld the constitutionality of the University of Michigan Law School’s affirmative action policy and affirmed the importance of diversity in higher education. The decision has had a lasting impact on the use of race in higher education admissions and continues to shape the legal landscape of affirmative action today.


Grutter v. Bollinger: The Background

Barbara Grutter was a woman living in Michigan. The case of Grutter v. Bollinger stems from Mrs. Grutter’s application the law school at the University of Michigan. Mrs. Grutter filed an injunction against the massive university in 2007.

The injunction filed against the school was in response to Mrs. Grutter’s application being rejected. The woman claimed that the admissions office favored minority candidates; Mrs. Grutter claimed minority candidates, who possessed worse academic records and qualifications, were accepted because of their race or ethnicity.

The case of Grutter v. Bollinger was not the first to question the acceptances of minority candidates for academic institutions or employment opportunities. For example, in a 1978 case called California vs. Bakke, Bakke cited unfair acceptance practices undertaken by the University of California. Bakke claimed that applicants who were less fortunate or poor who possessed lower scores were accepted over him. Bakke claimed that the university violated his 14th Amendment rights.

In addition to the 14th Amendment to the United States constitution, unfair admissions policies may also be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law states that no ethnic or racial preference should be granted to a particular group of people by any academic institution or business organization that receives federal funding. Therefore, any program that receives money from the government may not favor any applicant based on their race or ethnicity.

Grutter v. Bollinger: The Case Profile

The case of Grutter v. Bollinger took place on April 1st of 2003. The case was filed because Barbara Grutter thought her rejection from the University of Michigan’s law school was unfair. She thought the school accepted minority candidates over her even if those individuals had worse grades than her. Similar to the case of Bakke v. California, Grutter claimed that the University of Michigan violated her 14th Amendment rights. Grutter v. Bollinger was heard in the United States Supreme Court. The case of Grutter v. Bollinger was decided on June 23rd of 2003.

Grutter v. Bollinger: The Verdict

The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the University of Michigan. Because of this ruling, the court also required that the verdict in the case of Bakke v. California be overturned as well. The verdict in Grutter v. Bollinger was reached because the Law School admission process involved other facets outside of simply grades. Because of this, there was no way to prove that the school accepted or preferred candidates based on their race or ethnicity.