Federal Agencies Find U.C. Berkeley Law Used Race in Admissions
Updated September 14, 2026. The U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education announced a joint administrative finding that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law deliberately discriminated against White and Asian applicants in violation of Title VI.
What the agencies found
In a September 9 findings letter, the agencies said their compliance review concluded that Berkeley Law used race and racial proxies in admissions after the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The agencies cited application materials, admissions data, internal communications, and public statements in explaining their conclusion.
Procedural status: This is an administrative investigative finding—not a court judgment. The federal agencies are seeking a voluntary resolution. If the dispute is not resolved, later enforcement proceedings could follow.
Berkeley’s position
Berkeley Law disputes the accusation and has publicly maintained that it complies with federal law and California’s prohibition on racial preferences. The competing positions have not been adjudicated by a court.
Why it matters
The matter tests how federal civil-rights agencies will apply Title VI and the Supreme Court’s admissions precedent when universities use essays, holistic review, or other facially neutral criteria. The central legal question is whether those methods evaluate individual experience or operate as substitutes for racial classifications.
Primary sources and additional context
- DOJ and Education Department announcement
- September 9, 2026 federal findings letter
- Berkeley response reported by Reuters
WhiteAmericanRights.com distinguishes agency allegations and findings from final judicial rulings. This report is educational and does not constitute legal advice.
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