This case study analysis examines the case of Grutter v. Bollinger, which involves allegations of racial discrimination in university admissions. The case explores the arguments made by both parties and the Supreme Court's ruling on the matter.
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Running head: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS CASE STUDY ANALYSIS Name of the Student: Name of the University: Author Note:
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1 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS Case: Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003) Facts of the case: The main matter of issue of the case is the racial discrimination that was alleged to be practiced in the University of Michigan Law School (Davenport, Howard & Harrington Weston, 2018). The University denied the admission of Barbara Grutter who was a white Michigan resident having the required qualifications of 3.8 GPA and a 161 LSAT score. She then filed a suit alleging that the University had rejected her admission by discriminating her based on her race violating the 14thAmendment, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and also 42U.S.C. § 1981. The 14thAmendment forbids the States from denying equal protection of law to any person within its territorial jurisdiction. She also argued that she was not given admission as the University considers race as a predominant criterion as they allowed applicants from a particular minority section a better opportunity than those from disfavored race. However, the University argued that they are bound to consider the state interest to ensure the presence of students from minority sections like African Americans and Hispanics in the student category (Magstadt, 2016).They even argued that they adopted this procedure to provide sufficient opportunities to all categories of students specially the minority race students such that they do not feel separated and isolated, thereby giving better educational benefits to all.
2 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS Opinion of the Supreme Court: In this case, the Supreme court by the majority number of judges ruled that the usage of affirmative action in admission to the Law School is constitutional as it considers race as one of the factors and its main objective is to achieve diversity in the school. Thus by the majority ruling, upheld the decision given in theRegents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978) that permitted the use of racism as a criterion in the admission procedure but also denied the quota to be illegal. Dissenting opinion: ChiefJusticeRehnquist,togetherwithJusticeThomas,JusticeScaliaandJustice Kennedy however dissented from the majority decision and held that the admission policy used by the Law School was intended to achieve a racial balance by an unconstitutional manner and it was violating the Equal Protection Clause (Davenport, Howard & Harrington Weston, 2018). The basis of the dissent is concerned with the disbelief in the claim made by the law school that such discrimination system was needed to maintain number of minority student to allow a diversified educational scenario. My Opinion: From the discussion made above, it can be held that the dissenting opinion given by Chief Justice Rehnquist, together with Justice Thomas, Justice Scalia and Justice Kennedy was more practical in the present day situation as admission to use should only be done on the basis of educational criterion and not considering factors like race. People must be treated equally in the society as well as in the eye of law. Racial factor cannot be taken as an advantage over others. In
3 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS today’s world, discrimination on the basis of race is an degrading factor which must not be allowed at any cost specially in the educational sector where education should be the only consideration.
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4 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS References: Davenport, E. K., Howard, B., & Harrington Weston, S. (2018). An Examination of the Effect of the University of Michigan Cases on the Complexion of Higher Education.Alabama Journal of Educational Leadership,5, 29-38. Magstadt,T.M.(2016).Understandingpolitics:Ideas,institutions,andissues.Cengage Learning. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978).