Story perspectives

DOJ Accuses UC Berkeley Law of Title VI Violations

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 2:06 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

DOJ Targets Berkeley Law

U.S. Justice and Education Departments accused UC Berkeley Law of violating Title VI with race-based admissions.
Black applicants had 6.5 times higher odds in 2024 and 5.8 times in 2025 versus white applicants.
Half of admitted Black students scored below the 95th percentile of white applicants’ LSATs.
Median LSAT for Black admits was five points lower than for white or Asian admits.
The DOJ seeks a voluntary resolution agreement to enforce admissions compliance.

Summary

Trump Diversity Probe

President Donald Trump launched a probe to roll back university diversity programs.
The administration threatened to cut funding for campuses protesting Palestine, transgender policies, and climate actions.
Civil-rights groups say race-neutral policies ignore historic inequities affecting minorities, women, and LGBTQ people.
October 2025 enrollment shows 1,128 law students: 516 white, 293 Asian, and 51 Black.

History

Historical Context

In 1978, the Supreme Court’s Regents of the University of California v. Bakke decision struck down racial quotas while upholding limited affirmative-action admissions. The 5-4 ruling, authored by Justice William J. Brennan, rejected UC Davis Medical School’s 45% minority reserve, yet permitted race as a factor. Today, the Department of Justice and Education Department’s probe of UC Berkeley Law mirrors Bakke’s clash, as Black applicants face 6.5-times higher admission odds and LSAT gaps. The legacy of Bakke suggests future courts may again limit race-based policies, compelling universities to redesign diversity strategies under heightened federal scrutiny.

1 of 3

DOJ Targets Berkeley Law

U.S. Justice and Education Departments accused UC Berkeley Law of violating Title VI with race-based admissions.
Black applicants had 6.5 times higher odds in 2024 and 5.8 times in 2025 versus white applicants.
Half of admitted Black students scored below the 95th percentile of white applicants’ LSATs.
Median LSAT for Black admits was five points lower than for white or Asian admits.
The DOJ seeks a voluntary resolution agreement to enforce admissions compliance.

1 / 3