Politics
Trump administration accuses UC Berkeley Law of admissions bias
Federal officials claim the school favored Black applicants over peers, according to The Hill.
The short version
- Justice and Education department officials alleged UC Berkeley School of Law favored Black applicants over white and Asian applicants in violation of federal law.[The Hill]
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon claimed admissions data showed disparate acceptance odds and test score gaps between racial groups.[The Hill]
- Berkeley Law Dean Edwin Chemerinsky denied the allegations, stating the institution strictly follows the law and does not weigh race in admissions.[The Hill]
Key facts
- Federal officials alleged the UC Berkeley School of Law violated Title VI by favoring Black applicants over white and Asian candidates.[The Hill]
- A letter from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated Black applicants had roughly six times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants across 2024 and 2025.[The Hill]
- Dean Edwin Chemerinsky stated Berkeley Law scrupulously complies with all laws and does not consider race in admissions.[The Hill]
What remains uncertain
- The Justice Department's discrimination allegations and statistical comparisons are disputed by Berkeley Law's leadership.[The Hill]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.