Case: Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)
Summary:
Allan Bakke, a white male applicant, was twice denied admission to the University of California, Davis Medical School. Bakke alleged that he was denied admission because of his race, even though he had higher test scores and grades than some minority applicants who were admitted.
The medical school had a special admissions program that reserved 16 places for minority applicants each year. The program was designed to increase the number of minority students in the medical school, in order to address the underrepresentation of minorities in the medical profession.
Bakke sued the medical school, alleging that the special admissions program violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection under the law. The case made its way to the United States Supreme Court.
Case Outline:
Issue: Whether a university’s special admissions program that reserved places for minority applicants violated the Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection under the law.
Facts: Allan Bakke, a white male applicant, was twice denied admission to the University of California, Davis Medical School. Bakke alleged that he was denied admission because of his race, even though he had higher test scores and grades than some minority applicants who were admitted.
The medical school had a special admissions program that reserved 16 places for minority applicants each year. The program was designed to increase the number of minority students in the medical school, in order to address the underrepresentation of minorities in the medical profession.
Holding: The Supreme Court held that the medical school’s special admissions program violated the Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection under the law. The Court ruled that the program was unconstitutional because it discriminated against white applicants on the basis of their race.
However, the Court also held that affirmative action programs could be constitutional in some circumstances. The Court stated that affirmative action programs could be used to remedy past discrimination and to promote diversity in educational institutions.
Reasoning: The Court reasoned that the medical school’s special admissions program discriminated against white applicants on the basis of their race. The Court stated that the program was unconstitutional because it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race.
However, the Court also recognized that affirmative action programs could be constitutional in some circumstances. The Court stated that affirmative action programs could be used to remedy past discrimination and to promote diversity in educational institutions. The Court stated that affirmative action programs must be narrowly tailored to achieve these goals, and that they must not discriminate against white applicants.
Summary:
The Supreme Court’s decision in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke was a landmark case in the area of affirmative action law. The Court held that the medical school’s special admissions program was unconstitutional because it discriminated against white applicants on the basis of their race. However, the Court also held that affirmative action programs could be constitutional in some circumstances. The Court stated that affirmative action programs could be used to remedy past discrimination and to promote diversity in educational institutions.
The Bakke decision has been controversial since it was issued. Some people believe that the decision was a step backwards for civil rights. Others believe that the decision was necessary to ensure that affirmative action programs are fair and do not discriminate against white applicants.
The Bakke decision remains an important precedent in the area of affirmative action law. The case is cited in many cases involving affirmative action programs, and it continues to be debated by legal scholars and policymakers.
