According to press reports, the Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to quash a legal battle brought by a group of Asian-American students who argue Harvard College’s admissions process violates federal civil rights law and discriminates against Asian-American applicants.

The high court has asked the Justice Department in June to weigh in on the request by the students, members of the organization Students for Fair Admissions, to hear their appeal of a lower court decision upholding Harvard’s race-conscious admission policies.

In its brief filed with the Supreme Court recently, the Biden administration urged it to deny the petition, arguing it identified “no sound reason” to take up the case.

While the Trump administration supported Students for Fair Admissions in lower court proceedings, the Biden administration has reversed the government’s position and is backing Harvard.

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the court that the student group “cannot justify that extraordinary step” of reversing its 2003 decision that allows higher-education institutions to use race as a factor in admissions. The case brought by the rejected applicants, she argued, is a “poor vehicle” for reconsidering its past decisions on affirmative action.

Readers Bureau

Edited by Jesus Chan

Do you want to add feedback to this story? Please add a comment in the box below or send an email to info@thereadersbureau.com,  Call us at 201-500-7715