DOJ Finds UCLA Law Discriminated by Race in Admissions; School Defends Its Process
October 1, 2026 — Breaking News / Current Issues
The Justice Department announced an administrative finding that UCLA School of Law discriminated against White and Asian applicants to its 2023–2025 entering classes. UCLA Law says its admissions decisions comply with applicable law and reflect a comprehensive review of applicants’ achievements and experiences.
Procedural status: Administrative investigative finding; voluntary compliance sought. This is not a court judgment, settlement, or announced lawsuit resolving the admissions claims.
What DOJ found
DOJ alleges that essays, personal statements, and recruitment events were used to obtain racial information after the Supreme Court’s 2023 Students for Fair Admissions decision. It also cites applicants with matching LSAT scores who received different admissions outcomes by race. The Department concludes that these practices violated Title VI. These conclusions remain DOJ’s findings and have not been adjudicated by a court.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said: “The use of race as a thumb on the scale that helps or disadvantages any student is illegal.”
UCLA Law’s response
In an October 1 statement, UCLA Law said it follows the California Constitution, Proposition 209, federal statutes, and the U.S. Constitution. It described admissions as a comprehensive review based on merit, achievements, and experiences, adding: “We are confident in our process.”
What happens next
DOJ says it will seek a voluntary compliance agreement and file suit if negotiations fail.
Why it matters: The action raises questions about how law schools evaluate applicants after the Supreme Court’s restrictions on race-conscious admissions. The school’s response and the eventual procedural outcome should be tracked alongside the agency’s conclusions.
Dates: DOJ announcement and UCLA response: October 1, 2026. Independent reporting: October 1 at 2:01 p.m. Eastern / 1:01 p.m. Central. The admissions decisions examined concern the 2023, 2024, and 2025 entering classes.
Sources: DOJ announcement; DOJ findings letter; UCLA Law’s statement; Daily Caller News Foundation reporting.