SUMMARY
In this landmark case Allan Bakke, a white applicant to the University of California, Davis Medical School, sued claiming his denial of admission on racial grounds was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The standing rule at the time was that race may be a factor in determining admission to educational institutions; however it cannot be the sole determining factor.
FACTS OF THE CASE
The University of California, Davis Medical School had been reserving 16 spots in each class out of 100 for disadvantaged minorities. Allan Bakke was a more qualified applicant compared to some of the other students admitted under the special admissions policy. Comparatively his is race was the only distinguishing characteristic. Allen Bakke sued University of California, Davis Medical School, alleging the special admissions program denied him equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
ISSUE IN QUESTION
The issue in question, is The University of California Davis Medical School’s admissions policy constitutional? Also in evaluating an applicant; which factors are appropriate to consider? Can race be considered as a factor in the admissions process?
THE COURT HELD
The Supreme Court declared that University of California, Davis Medical School’s special admissions program is
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The differential treatment of applicants solely on racial grounds is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that while race is a legitimate factor in school admissions, the use of such inflexible quotas as the medical school had set aside was not. The Supreme Court was split 5–4 in its decision, addressing only a minimal number of the many issues that had be brought up about affirmative