Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina
Decision Date | 18 October 2021 |
Docket Number | 1:14CV954 |
Parties | STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC., Plaintiff, v. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, et al., Defendants. |
Court | U.S. District Court — Middle District of North Carolina |
Andrew Allen Freeman, Daniel Alan M. Ruley, Bell Davis & Pitt, P.A., Winston-Salem, NC, Thomas R. McCarthy, Bryan K. Weir, James F. Hasson, John Michael Connolly, William S. Consovoy, Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, Arlington, VA, Patrick Strawbridge, Consovoy McCarthy Park PLLC, Boston, MA, for Plaintiff.
Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Amy L. Van Gelder, Marianne H. Combs, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, LLP, Chicago, IL, Stephanie A. Brennan, Tamika Henderson, N.C. Department of Justice, Raleigh, NC, Lara A. Flath, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, LLP, New York, NY, for Defendants University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Board of Governors, John C. Fennebresque, W. Louis Bissette, Jr., Joan Templeton Perry, Roger Aiken, Hannah D. Gage, Ann B. Goodnight, H. Frank Frainger, Peter D. Hans, Thomas J. Harrelson, Henry W. Hinton, James L. Holmes, Jr., Rodney E. Hood, W. Marty Kotis, III, G. Leroy Lail, Scott Lampe, Steven B. Long, Joan G. MacNeill, Mary Ann Maxwell, W. Edwin McMahan, W.G. Champion Mitchell, Hari H. Math, Anna Spangler Nelson, Alex Parker, R. Doyle Parrish, Therence O. Pickett, David M. Powers, Robert S. Rippy, Harry Leo Smith, Jr., J. Craig Souza, George A. Sywassink, Richard F. Taylor, Raiford Trask, III, Phillip D. Walker, Laura I. Wiley, Thomas W. Ross, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carol L. Folt, James W. Dean, Jr., Stephen M. Farmer.
TRIAL FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Plaintiff, Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. ("SFFA"), initiated this action on November 7, 2014, against the named University of North Carolina Defendants ("UNC Defendants"), alleging that the use of race in its undergraduate admissions process at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ("the University" or "UNC") violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983 (" Sections 1981 and 1983"), and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq. ("Title VI"). (ECF No. 1 at 2 (Compl.).) Specifically, SFFA alleges that the University "has intentionally discriminated against certain of [its] members on the basis of their race, color, or ethnicity in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and [federal law]" by: (1) "employing an undergraduate admissions policy that does not merely use race as a ‘plus’ factor in admissions decisions in order to achieve student body diversity"; (2) "employing racial preferences in undergraduate admissions where there are available race-neutral alternatives capable of achieving student body diversity"; and (3) "employing an undergraduate admissions policy that uses race as a factor in admissions." (Id. ¶¶ 198, 205, 215.) SFFA seeks declaratory and injunctive relief as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. (Id. at 64.)
The UNC Defendants counter that the admissions process at the University is constitutionally permissible under current law in that it withstands strict scrutiny. First, they argue that "the University's compelling interest in the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body" is clear and uncontested. (ECF No. 245 at 8.) Second, they argue that "consistent with Supreme Court guidance, the University engages in an individualized, holistic review of each application for admission, considering race flexibly, as only one factor" in the evaluation process. (Id. at 10.) Third and finally, UNC Defendants argue that it has demonstrated a serious, good-faith consideration of race-neutral alternatives but has "found none that would allow it to achieve its compelling interest about as well and at tolerable administrative expense." (Id. at 11.) In this trial UNC Defendants seek judgment in their favor on Counts I and II of the Complaint. (ECF No. 30 at 115 (Answer).) Count III of Plaintiff's Complaint was resolved by prior Order of this Court. (ECF No. 210); see Section II.B.7, infra.
Plaintiff Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. is a voluntary membership association with more than 20,000 members, including applicants...
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