Politics
Federal judge dismisses Justice Department suit seeking Harvard admissions records
Judge Myong J. Joun said the government did not show it tried to resolve the issue with Harvard before suing.
The short version
- A federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit accusing Harvard of withholding admissions data.[The Washington Sun · ABC News]
- The dismissal is without prejudice, so the government may reopen its complaint after addressing procedural issues.[The Washington Sun]
- Judge Myong J. Joun found the government did not show it tried to settle the issue with Harvard before filing suit.[The Washington Sun · ABC News]
- Then-Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in February that Harvard failed to disclose needed data, while Harvard says it provided substantial records.[The Washington Sun]
Key facts
- A federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit against Harvard over admissions data.[The Washington Sun · ABC News]
- The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing the government to reopen its complaint after addressing procedural issues.[The Washington Sun]
- The judge found the government did not show it tried to settle the issue with Harvard before taking legal action.[The Washington Sun · ABC News]
- The lawsuit, filed in February, sought data from hundreds of thousands of college applications, including personal essays.[The Washington Sun]
- The Supreme Court found in 2023 that affirmative action violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[The Washington Sun]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown whether the government will refile or cure the procedural deficiency the judge identified.[The Washington Sun]
- Harvard's statement that it provided substantial records and objected to the probe's scope is its own account and is not independently verified.[The Washington Sun]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.