DOJ Finds Duke Law Violated Civil Rights Law Over Race Bias

The Justice Department concluded that Duke University School of Law violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by employing admissions criteria that disproportionately favored Black and Hispanic applicants at the expense of white and Asian applicants. The investigation found that Black applicants were 3.5 times more likely to be admitted than their white and Asian counterparts with comparable qualifications.

According to the DOJ, the law school used race-neutral proxies, such as essays and other subjective measures, to achieve racial diversity in its entering classes. These proxies effectively functioned as a substitute for explicit racial quotas, which are prohibited under federal law.

The findings stem from a complaint filed with the department's Civil Rights Division. The DOJ's investigation reviewed admissions data from multiple application cycles and determined that the school's practices had a discriminatory impact on non-minority applicants.

Duke Law has not yet publicly responded to the findings. The university could face loss of federal funding if it does not address the violations. The DOJ's action is part of a broader federal effort to scrutinize race-conscious admissions practices following the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling that struck down affirmative action in higher education.