Justice Department Finds Duke Law School Engaged in Discriminatory Admissions
The U.S. Department of Justice has found that Duke Law School intentionally discriminated in its admissions process, admitting Black and Hispanic applicants at higher rates than White and Asian applicants with comparable academic qualifications.
Raleigh Durham, NC, August 6, 2026 —
The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded that Duke Law School intentionally discriminated against Asian and White applicants in its admissions process. The department’s findings state that the law school admitted Black and Hispanic applicants at higher rates than White and Asian applicants who possessed similar academic credentials.
According to the Justice Department’s investigation, these disparities indicate a pattern of discrimination. The department’s findings were based on an analysis of Duke Law School’s admissions data. The investigation determined that the school’s practices resulted in less favorable treatment for applicants from certain racial groups when compared to others with comparable qualifications.
The U.S. Department of Justice has not provided specific details regarding the timeline of the admissions process under review or the exact academic qualifications that were considered comparable. Furthermore, the department has not yet announced any potential remedies or actions to be taken as a result of these findings.
This finding by the Justice Department raises significant questions about affirmative action policies and their implementation in higher education admissions. The department has previously stated its commitment to investigating and addressing discrimination in educational institutions.
The contractor’s name involved in this admissions process was not provided. The specific metrics used for comparing academic qualifications were also not detailed in the initial summary. The implications of the Justice Department’s findings for Duke Law School’s future admissions practices remain to be seen.
Story summarized from the original created by WTVD on abc11.com, see more information here.
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