WASHINGTON, DC – August 9, 2026 (STL.News) Justice Department – Duke Law – The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday (Aug. 6, 2026) that its Civil Rights Division found Duke University School of Law intentionally discriminated on the basis of race in admissions decisions for its 2023, 2024 and 2025 entering classes, alleging violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
According to the Justice Department, its investigation concluded that Duke Law continued to emphasize racial diversity in admissions after the Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious admissions practices are unlawful. Federal officials allege the law school’s admissions process was designed to preserve race-based outcomes despite the Court’s decision.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said the department believes Duke Law unlawfully discriminated against white and Asian applicants.
“Duke Law School doesn’t get a free pass to discriminate against white and Asian students simply because it thinks it has good intentions,” Dhillon said in a statement. She added that using diversity-related essay questions to identify preferred racial groups for admission remains unlawful under federal law.
Justice Department Details Investigation
The Justice Department said Duke Law revised its mission statement following the Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions decision to emphasize building a legal profession committed to values including equal justice, public service and diversity of perspective and experience.
According to investigators, applicants were required to answer short essay questions explaining how they would contribute to the school’s mission. Admissions reviewers were instructed to assign internal tags to responses, including a “Diversity/Services” designation. The department also said reviewers highlighted characteristics commonly associated with race, including whether applicants had received Pell Grants.
Federal officials contend those practices allowed admissions personnel to identify applicants whose backgrounds aligned with the school’s diversity objectives, despite published policies stating that reviewers did not have access to applicants’ racial demographic information.
DOJ Cites Statistical Differences
The Justice Department said its analysis found that Black and Hispanic applicants had a substantially higher likelihood of admission than white and Asian applicants with similar academic credentials.
The department also alleged that during the 2024 and 2025 admissions cycles, the median LSAT scores of rejected white and Asian applicants exceeded the median LSAT scores of admitted Black applicants. Federal officials cited those findings as evidence supporting their conclusion that Duke Law’s admissions practices violated Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance.
Potential Enforcement Action
The Justice Department said federally funded law schools must comply with Title VI and the Supreme Court’s decision prohibiting race-conscious admissions.
Officials said the department will first seek negotiated settlements with institutions found to be out of compliance. If settlement efforts are unsuccessful, the department said it is prepared to file lawsuits to enforce federal civil rights laws.
The announcement did not indicate that a lawsuit had been filed against Duke University or that any settlement had been reached.
Duke University’s Response
At the time of the Justice Department’s announcement, Duke University said it was reviewing the department’s findings. The university had not admitted wrongdoing, and no court has ruled on the Justice Department’s allegations.
Broader Significance
The investigation is part of the Justice Department’s broader effort to enforce the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which significantly limited the consideration of race in college and university admissions nationwide.
Federal officials have said they will continue reviewing admissions policies at educational institutions that receive federal funding to determine whether they comply with Title VI and the Supreme Court’s ruling.
As of publication, the Justice Department’s findings represent the federal government’s conclusions following its investigation. Whether Duke Law violated federal law has not been determined by a court.
Legal Disclaimer: The allegations and findings described in this article are those of the U.S. Department of Justice. Duke University School of Law has not been found liable by a court, and no final judicial determination has been made regarding the allegations. Under the U.S. legal system, all parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven liable or guilty through the appropriate legal process.
