No. 21-707

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, et al.

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2021-11-15
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (14)Relisted (3) Experienced Counsel
Tags: admissions affirmative-action civil-rights diversity educational-diversity equal-protection grutter-precedent higher-education higher-education-admissions race-conscious-admissions race-neutral-alternatives
Key Terms:
DueProcess JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2022-01-21 (distributed 3 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Should this Court overrule Grutter v. Bollinger and hold that institutions of higher education cannot use race as a factor in admissions?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED 1. Should this Court overrule Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003), and hold that institutions of higher education cannot use race as a factor in admissions? 2. Can a university reject a race-neutral alternative because it would change the composition of the student body, without proving that the alternative would cause a dramatic sacrifice in academic quality or the educational benefits of overall student-body diversity?

Docket Entries

2023-07-31
Judgment issued.
2023-07-07
Letter from counsel for amici curiae Association of American Medical Colleges, et al. received.
2022-10-31
Argued. For petitioner: Patrick Strawbridge, Boston, Mass. For university respondents: Ryan Y. Park, Solicitor General, Raleigh, N. C. For student respondents: David G. Hinojosa, Washington, D. C. For United States, as amicus curiae, supporting respondents: Elizabeth B. Prelogar, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
2022-09-15
Record received from the U.S.D.C. Middle Dist. of North Carolina has been electronically filed.
2022-09-12
Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit.
2022-09-09
Motion for divided argument and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed by student respondents GRANTED.
2022-09-09
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument GRANTED, and the time is divided as follows: 45 minutes for petitioner, 20 minutes for the university respondents, 10 minutes for the student respondents, and 15 minutes for the Solicitor General.
2022-08-31
CIRCULATED
2022-08-24
Reply of petitioner Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. filed.
2022-08-03
ARGUMENT SET FOR Monday, October 31, 2022.
2022-08-01
Brief amici curiae of 1,246 American Social Science Researchers and Scholars filed.
2022-08-01
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2022-08-01
Motion of United States for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed.
2022-08-01
Motion for divided argument and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed by student respondents.
2022-07-25
Brief of University Respondents filed.
2022-07-25
Brief of Respondent-Students Cecilia Polanco, et al. filed.
2022-07-25
Brief amici curiae of NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. & National Association for the Advancement of Colored People filed.
2022-07-22
This case is no longer consolidated with No. 20-1199, Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard, and one hour is allotted for oral argument.
2022-01-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/21/2022.
2022-01-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/14/2022.
2021-12-23
Reply of petitioner Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
2021-12-22
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/7/2022.
2021-12-20
Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition under Rule 15.5 filed.
2021-12-20
Brief of respondents Cecilia Polanco, et al. in opposition filed. (Distributed)
2021-12-20
Brief of respondents University respondents in opposition filed. (Distributed)
2021-12-15
Brief amicus curiae of Liberty Justice Center filed.
2021-12-15
Brief amici curiae of Asian American Coalition for Education and the Asian American Legal Foundation filed.
2021-12-15
Brief amici curiae of Speech First and Southeastern Legal Foundation filed.
2021-12-15
Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
2021-12-15
Brief amici curiae of Judicial Watch, Inc. and Allied Educational Foundation filed.
2021-12-15
Brief amici curiae of Oklahoma, et al. filed.
2021-12-14
Brief amici curiae of Former Federal Officials of the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights filed.
2021-12-14
Brief amici curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation, et al. filed.
2021-12-14
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Scholars filed.
2021-12-13
Brief amicus curiae of Professor David Bernstein filed.
2021-12-08
Brief amicus curiae of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation filed.
2021-11-22
The motion of The University of North Carolina, et al. to extend the time to file a response is granted in part, and the time is extended to and including December 20, 2021.
2021-11-22
The motion of Cecilia Polanco, et al. to extend the time to file a response is granted in part, and the time is extended to and including December 20, 2021.
2021-11-19
Motion of Cecilia Polanco, et al. to extend the time to file a response from December 15, 2021 to January 14, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-11-19
Response to motion to expedite from respondent Cecilia Polanco, et al. filed.
2021-11-19
Reply in Support of Motion to Expedite and Opposition to Motions for an Extension filed.
2021-11-18
Motion of The University of North Carolina et al. to extend the time to file a response from December 15, 2021 to January 14, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-11-18
Response to motion to expedite from respondent The University of North Carolina et al. filed.
2021-11-11
Petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment filed. (Response due December 15, 2021)
2021-11-11
Motion to expedite briefing of the petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment filed by petitioner Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.

Attorneys

1,246 American Social Science Researchers and Scholars
Caroline Elizabeth ReynoldsZuckerman Spaeder, LLP, Amicus
Caroline Elizabeth ReynoldsZuckerman Spaeder, LLP, Amicus
25 Diverse, California-Focused Bar Associations, Lawyers Associations, Civil Rights Organizations, and Community Foundations
Mark Remy YohalemWilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Amicus
Mark Remy YohalemWilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Amicus
Accept, Inc.
Daniel Dennis DoyleLashly & Baer, P.C., Amicus
Daniel Dennis DoyleLashly & Baer, P.C., Amicus
Adm. Charles S. Abbot, Adm. Dennis C. Blair, Gen. Charles F. Bolden, Jr., Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Adm. Walter E. Carter, Jr., et al.
Michael M. PurpuraHueston Hennigan LLP, Amicus
Michael M. PurpuraHueston Hennigan LLP, Amicus
Admissions and Testing Professionals
Daniel Dennis DoyleLashly & Baer, P.C., Amicus
American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity and Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity
Marilynn Louise SchuylerFisher & Phillips LLP, Amicus
Marilynn Louise SchuylerFisher & Phillips LLP, Amicus
American Civil Liberties Union et al.
Sarah Ann HingerAmerican Civil Liberties Union, Amicus
Sarah Ann HingerAmerican Civil Liberties Union, Amicus
American Council on Education and 39 Other Higher Education Associations
Jessica Lynn EllsworthHogan Lovells US, LLP, Amicus
Jessica Lynn EllsworthHogan Lovells US, LLP, Amicus
American Educational Research Association, et al.
Angelo N. Ancheta — Amicus
Angelo N. Ancheta — Amicus
American Federation of Teachers
Kevin K. RussellGoldstein and Russell, P.C., Amicus
Kevin K. RussellGoldstein and Russell, P.C., Amicus
American G.I. Forum, et al.
Elizabeth Ann RitvoBrown, Rudnick LLP, Amicus
Elizabeth Ann RitvoBrown, Rudnick LLP, Amicus
Amherst, Barnard, Bates, Bowdoin, Bryn Mawr, Carleton, Colby, Connecticut, Davidson, Franklin & Marshall, Hamilton, Hampshire, Haverford, Macalester, Middlebury, Mount Holyoke, Oberlin, Pomona, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, St. Olaf, Swarthmore, Trinity, U
Mark David HarrisProskauer Rose LLP, Amicus
Mark David HarrisProskauer Rose LLP, Amicus
Applied Materials, Inc., Corteva Agriscience, Cummins Inc., DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., LinkedIn Corp., Mastercard Inc., Micron Technology, Inc., Microsoft Corp., Shell USA, Inc., and Verizon Services Corp.
Mark Simon DaviesOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Amicus
Mark Simon DaviesOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Amicus
Asian American Coalition for Education and the Asian American Legal Foundation
Gordon M. Fauth Jr.Litigation Law Group, Amicus
Gordon M. Fauth Jr.Litigation Law Group, Amicus
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Dean RichlinFoley Hoag LLP, Amicus
Dean RichlinFoley Hoag LLP, Amicus
Asian Americans Advancing Justice and 37 Organizations
Roberto Andres Rivera-SotoBallard Spahr LLP, Amicus
Roberto Andres Rivera-SotoBallard Spahr LLP, Amicus
Association of American Medical Colleges et al.
Jonathan Saul FranklinNorton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Amicus
Jonathan Saul FranklinNorton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Amicus
Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, Inc.
Daniel Dennis DoyleLashly & Baer, P.C., Amicus
Black Women Law Scholars
Raymond Patrick TolentinoKaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, Amicus
Raymond Patrick TolentinoKaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, Amicus
Brown University, et al.
Matthew S. HellmanJenner & Block LLP, Amicus
Matthew S. HellmanJenner & Block LLP, Amicus
Californians for Equal Rights Foundation
Daniel Isaac MorenoffThe Equal Voting Rights Institute d/b/a The American Civil Rights Projects, Amicus
Daniel Isaac MorenoffThe Equal Voting Rights Institute d/b/a The American Civil Rights Projects, Amicus
Cecilia Polanco, et al.
David G. HinojosaLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Respondent
David G. HinojosaLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Respondent
College Board, National Association for College Admission Counseling, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and ACT, Inc.
Michael Alan BrownNelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough LLP, Amicus
Michael Alan BrownNelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough LLP, Amicus
Constitutional Accountability Center
Brianne Jenna GorodConstitutional Accountability Center, Amicus
Brianne Jenna GorodConstitutional Accountability Center, Amicus
David Boyle
David Christopher Boyle — Amicus
David Christopher Boyle — Amicus
Deans of U.S. Law Schools
David Benjamin OppenheimerBerkeley Law, Amicus
David Benjamin OppenheimerBerkeley Law, Amicus
Deborah Cohen and 67 Other Professors
Mark Alexander PackmanGilbert LLP, Amicus
Mark Alexander PackmanGilbert LLP, Amicus
Empirical Scholars
Susan Leann Baker ManningMorgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Amicus
Susan Leann Baker ManningMorgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Amicus
F. Andrew Hessick
Richard A. Simpson — Amicus
Richard A. Simpson — Amicus
Faith Organizations including The General Synod - United Church of Christ, American Baptist Home Mission Societies & African Descent Lutheran Association of the ELCA
Corrine Anetra IrishSquire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Amicus
Corrine Anetra IrishSquire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Amicus
Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III
Edward Mark WengerHoltzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC, Amicus
Edward Mark WengerHoltzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC, Amicus
Former Federal Officials of the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights
William E. TrachmanMountain States Legal Foundation, Amicus
William E. TrachmanMountain States Legal Foundation, Amicus
Georgetown University, et al.
Crystal Nix-HinesQuinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, Amicus
Crystal Nix-HinesQuinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, Amicus
HBCU Leaders and National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
Laurel Pyke MalsonCrowell & Moring LLP, Amicus
Laurel Pyke MalsonCrowell & Moring LLP, Amicus
HR Policy Association
George Roger KingG Roger King, Amicus
George Roger KingG Roger King, Amicus
Human Rights Advocates and Human Rights First
Constance de la VegaUniversity of San Francisco School of Law, Amicus
Constance de la VegaUniversity of San Francisco School of Law, Amicus
Human Rights Advocates, et al.
Neil Anthony Friedman PopovicSheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, Amicus
Neil Anthony Friedman PopovicSheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, Amicus
Individual Scientists
Ashley Lee Hogewood IIIK&L Gates LLP, Amicus
Ashley Lee Hogewood IIIK&L Gates LLP, Amicus
Judicial Watch, Inc. and Allied Educational Foundation (“AEF”)
T. Russell NobileJudicial Watch, Inc., Amicus
T. Russell NobileJudicial Watch, Inc., Amicus
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
Stephen Robert McAllisterDentons US LLP, Amicus
Stephen Robert McAllisterDentons US LLP, Amicus
Legal Insurrection Foundation
William Alan Jacobson — Amicus
William Alan Jacobson — Amicus
Legal Scholars Defending Race-Conscious Admissions
Vinay Vasdev HarpalaniUniversity of New Mexico School of Law, Amicus
Vinay Vasdev HarpalaniUniversity of New Mexico School of Law, Amicus
Liberty Justice Center
Daniel Robert SuhrLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
Daniel Robert SuhrLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
Major American Business Enterprises
Michael R. DreebenO’Melveny & Myers LLP, Amicus
Michael R. DreebenO’Melveny & Myers LLP, Amicus
Massachusetts et al.
Elizabeth Napier DewarOffice of the Attorney General, Amicus
Elizabeth Napier DewarOffice of the Attorney General, Amicus
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, et al.
Douglas Harry Hallward-DriemeierRopes & Gray, LLP, Amicus
Douglas Harry Hallward-DriemeierRopes & Gray, LLP, Amicus
Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council, Inc., National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, National Hispanic Foundation for The Arts, Emma Bowen Foundation for Minority Interests In Media, and National Newspaper Publishers Association
Emily Kanstroom MusgraveMintz,Levin,Cohn,Ferris,GlovskyandPopeo,P.C., Amicus
Emily Kanstroom MusgraveMintz,Levin,Cohn,Ferris,GlovskyandPopeo,P.C., Amicus
NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. & National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Janai S. NelsonNAACP LDF, Inc., Amicus
Janai S. NelsonNAACP LDF, Inc., Amicus
National Academy of Education
Yelena KonanovaSelendy Gay Elsberg PLLC, Amicus
Yelena KonanovaSelendy Gay Elsberg PLLC, Amicus
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and National LGBTQ+ Bar Association
Blaine Ian GreenPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Amicus
Blaine Ian GreenPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Amicus
National Association of Basketball Coaches, et al.
Jaime Ann SantosGoodwin Procter LLP, Amicus
Jaime Ann SantosGoodwin Procter LLP, Amicus
National Association of Scholars
Dennis J. SaffranDennis Saffran, Attorney at Law, Amicus
Dennis J. SaffranDennis Saffran, Attorney at Law, Amicus
National Black Law Students Association
Deborah N. ArcherNYU School of Law, Amicus
Deborah N. ArcherNYU School of Law, Amicus
National Education Association et al.
Alice Margaret O'BrienNational Education Association, Amicus
Alice Margaret O'BrienNational Education Association, Amicus
National School Boards Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, American Association of School Administrators, and American School Counselors Association
Pratik Arvind ShahAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, Amicus
Pratik Arvind ShahAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, Amicus
National Women's Law Center and 37 Additional Organizations Committed to Race and Gender Equality
Richard Craig SmithLinklaters LLP, Amicus
Richard Craig SmithLinklaters LLP, Amicus
Pacific Legal Foundation, Center for Equal Opportunity, Reason Foundation, Chinese American Citizens Alliance - Greater New York, Yi Fang Chen, Coalition for TJ, and Project 21
Wencong FaPacific Legal Foundation, Amicus
Wencong FaPacific Legal Foundation, Amicus
President and Chancellors of the University of California
Ginger D. AndersMunger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Amicus
Ginger D. AndersMunger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Amicus
Professor David Bernstein
Cory Ren LiuAshcroft Law Firm LLC, Amicus
Cory Ren LiuAshcroft Law Firm LLC, Amicus
Professors of History and Law
Kathleen Roberta HartnettCooley LLP, Amicus
Kathleen Roberta HartnettCooley LLP, Amicus
Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Member of Congress and 64 Other Members of Congress
Brigida BenitezSteptoe & Johnson LLP, Amicus
Brigida BenitezSteptoe & Johnson LLP, Amicus
Southern Governors
Charles Luther McCloudWilliams & Connolly LLP, Amicus
Charles Luther McCloudWilliams & Connolly LLP, Amicus
Speech First and Southeastern Legal Foundation
Bradley Alan BenbrookBenbrook Law Group, Amicus
Bradley Alan BenbrookBenbrook Law Group, Amicus
State of Oklahoma
Mithun MansinghaniSolicitor General, Amicus
Mithun MansinghaniSolicitor General, Amicus
Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.
Thomas Ryan McCarthyConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
Thomas Ryan McCarthyConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
Patrick StrawbridgeConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
Patrick StrawbridgeConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
William Spencer ConsovoyConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
William Spencer ConsovoyConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
The American Bar Association
Reginald M. Turner Jr.American Bar Association, Amicus
Reginald M. Turner Jr.American Bar Association, Amicus
The American Psychological Association, The Massachusetts Psychological Association, and The North Carolina Psychological Association
Melissa Arbus SherryLatham & Watkins LLP, Amicus
Melissa Arbus SherryLatham & Watkins LLP, Amicus
The Cato Institute
Ilya ShapiroCato Institute, Amicus
Ilya ShapiroCato Institute, Amicus
The Council of the Great City Schools
John W. BorkowskiHusch Blackwell, Amicus
John W. BorkowskiHusch Blackwell, Amicus
The University of Michigan
John Patrick ElwoodArnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, Amicus
John Patrick ElwoodArnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, Amicus
The University of North Carolina et al.
Ryan Young ParkNorth Carolina Department of Justice - Office of the Solicitor General, Respondent
Ryan Young ParkNorth Carolina Department of Justice - Office of the Solicitor General, Respondent
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Amicus
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Amicus
United States Senators and Former Senators
Robert Allen Long Jr.Covington & Burling, LLP, Amicus
Robert Allen Long Jr.Covington & Burling, LLP, Amicus
United States Senators and Representatives
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Amicus
Richard Shawn GunnarsonKirton McConkie, Amicus
Washington Bar Association and Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia
Upnit K. BhattiOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Amicus
Upnit K. BhattiOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Amicus
Youth Advocates and Experts on Educational Access
Kelly M. DermodyLieff Cabraser Heimann and Bernstein, LLP, Amicus
Kelly M. DermodyLieff Cabraser Heimann and Bernstein, LLP, Amicus