what was the supreme courts ruling in the regents of the university of california v bakke case of 1978

Bakke decision, formally Regents of the University of California

v. Bakke, ruling in which, on June 28, 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court declared affirmative action constitutional but invalidated the use of racial quotas.

Full Answer

What is the significance of Regents of the University of California v Bakke?

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978), was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. It upheld affirmative action, allowing race to be one of several factors in college admission policy. However, the court ruled that specific racial quotas,...

What did the Supreme Court decide in the case of Bakke?

Bakke, ruling in which, on June 28, 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court declared affirmative action constitutional but invalidated the use of racial quotas. The medical school at the University of California, Davis, as part of the university’s affirmative action program, had reserved 16 percent of its admission places for minority...

What are some Supreme Court cases involving the Board of Regents?

Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents (2000) United States v. Morrison (2000) Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett (2001) Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs (2003) Tennessee v. Lane (2004)

What did Robert Bork say about the Bakke v California case?

Law professor and future judge Robert Bork wrote in the pages of The Wall Street Journal that the justices who had voted to uphold affirmative action were "hard-core racists of reverse discrimination". Allan Bakke had given few interviews during the pendency of the case, and on the day it was decided, went to work as usual in Palo Alto.

What was the significance of the Regents v. Bakke case?

The decision had historical and legal significance because it upheld affirmative action, declaring that race could be one of several determining factors in college admission policies, but rejected the use of racial quotas.

Which amendment did Bakke violate?

Bakke alleged that the special admissions process violated the U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, the California Constitution's article I, section 21, and Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act .

What landmark ruling put a halt to racial quotas on college campuses?

The Landmark Ruling That Put a Halt to Racial Quotas on College Campuses. Charles Montaldo is a writer and former licensed private detective who worked with law enforcement and insurance firms investigating crime and fraud. The Regents of the University of California v. Allan Bakke (1978), was a landmark case decided by ...

How many points did Bakke score on the MCAT?

He scored an overall 72 on the MCAT, which was three points higher than the average applicant to UCD and 39 points higher than the average special program applicant. In 1972, Bakke applied to UCD. His biggest concern was being rejected due to his age.

How many reserved spots were filled in the dual admissions program?

From the time that the dual admissions program was implemented the 16 reserved spots were filled by minorities, despite the fact that many white applicants applied for the special disadvantaged program.

How did the 1970s affect the admissions process?

This effort was particularly challenging due to the 1970s massive increase of students applying to medical and law schools. It increased the competition and negatively impacted the efforts to create campus environments that promoted equality and diversity.

When did Bakke receive his second rejection letter?

Bakke received his second rejection letter from UCD at the end of September 1973.

What is the significance of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Regents of the University of California v.?

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978), was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. It upheld affirmative action, allowing race to be one of several factors in college admission policy.

What court did Bakke go to?

The California Supreme Court struck down the program as violative of the rights of white applicants and ordered Bakke admitted. The U.S. Supreme Court accepted the case amid wide public attention. The case fractured the court; the nine justices issued a total of six opinions.

How many Justices were in the Bakke case?

The case fractured the court; the nine justices issued a total of six opinions. The judgment of the court was written by Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr.; two different blocs of four justices joined various parts of Powell's opinion. Finding diversity in the classroom to be a compelling state interest, Powell opined that affirmative action in general was allowed under the Constitution and the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Nevertheless, UC Davis's program went too far for a majority of justices, and it was struck down and Bakke admitted. The practical effect of Bakke was that most affirmative action programs continued without change. Questions about whether the Bakke case was merely a plurality opinion or binding precedent were answered in 2003 when the court upheld Powell's position in a majority opinion in Grutter v. Bollinger .

Why was Bakke rejected from medical school?

Allan P. Bakke ( / ˈbɑːkiː / ), an engineer and former Marine officer, sought admission to medical school, but was rejected for admission due in part to his age.

Why did Powell say Bakke was not admitted?

Powell opined that because the university had admitted that it could not prove that Bakke would not have been admitted even had there been no special admissions program, the portion of the California Supreme Court's decision ordering Bakke's admission was proper, and was upheld.

How old was Bakke when he applied to the University of California?

Bakke was in his early 30s while applying, and therefore considered too old by at least two institutions. After twice being rejected by the University of California, Davis, he brought suit in state court challenging the constitutionality of the school's affirmative action program.

When did the oral argument in Bakke take place?

Oral argument in Bakke took place on October 12, 1977. There was intense public interest in the case; prospective attendees began to line up the afternoon before. The court session took two hours, with Cox arguing for the university, Colvin for Bakke, and Solicitor General Wade H. McCree for the United States. Colvin was admonished by Justice Byron White for arguing the facts, rather than the Constitution. Cox provided one of the few moments of levity during the argument when Justice Harry A. Blackmun wondered whether the set-aside seats could be compared to athletic scholarships. Cox was willing to agree, but noted that he was a Harvard graduate, and as for sporting success, "I don't know whether it's our aim, but we don't do very well."

What did the Supreme Court decide about Bakke?

The Supreme Court, in a highly fractured ruling (six separate opinions were issued), agreed that the university’s use of strict racial quotas was unconstitutional and ordered that the medical school admit Bakke, but it also contended that race could be used as one criterion in the admissions decisions of institutions of higher education. ...

When was the Bakke decision?

Bakke decision, formally Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, ruling in which, on June 28, 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court declared affirmative action constitutional but invalidated the use of racial quotas.

What is the Supreme Court?

Supreme Court of the United States, final court of appeal and final expositor of the Constitution of the United States. Within the framework of litigation, the Supreme Court marks the boundaries of authority between state and nation, state and state, and government and citizen.…

What is the significance of the Regents of Univ. of California v. Bakke?

Regents of Univ. of California v. Bakke was the landmark affirmative action case of its time, and subsequent decisions have clarified the Court’s position always with this case in mind. In finding for Bakke, the Court was able to minimize opposition to affirmative action programs. Moreover, the opinion allows for the use of race as a factor in admissions decisions, which is a net gain for the cause of affirmative action.

What did the California Supreme Court decide about Bakke?

The California Supreme Court held that the special admissions program violated the Equal Protection Clause . It also ordered Bakke’s admission to the school.

What did the California Supreme Court rule about affirmative action?

The California Supreme Court held that the program violated Equal Protection, and ordered that the applicant be admitted to the school.

Why was the special admissions program not necessary?

However, the special admissions program was not necessary to achieve that goal, because it foreclosed consideration to applicants like Bakke.

What did the court find about Bakke's special admissions program?

The state trial court found that (i) the special admissions program was a racial quota; (ii) the school could not account for race in admissions decisions; and (iii) the special admissions program violated the Federal and State Constitutions, and Title VI. The court, however, did not order Bakke’s admission.

Why does special admission not violate the Constitution?

Race should be considered when making admissions decisions, and the school’s special admission program does not violate the Constitution because it is meant to remedy the effects of a legacy of discrimination.

How old was Allan Bakke when he applied to medical school?

Respondent Allan Bakke, a 35-year-old white man, applied to the Medical School of the University of California at Davis two years in a row. He was rejected both times.

Why did the Court grant Bakke admission to UC Davis?

In a plurality decision written by Justice Lewis Powell, the Court decided to grant Bakke admission to the UC Davis Medical School because the admissions policy violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause. Powell used strict scrutiny towards racial classifications, leading to a heavy burden of proof, and narrowly tailored programming. The Court also decided not to give weight to past discrimination in reviewing an admissions policy. However, the Court ruled that race could be one factor considered in admissions, granting constitutionality to some but not all affirmative action policies. Race could not be the only factor, and racial quotas like the one used by UC Davis was ruled unconstitutional. No other Justice completely agreed with the decision, making it a plurality instead of a majority opinion.

What did Bakke sue for?

Bakke sued the school under Title VI Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act states that “No person… shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the denial of equal protection of the laws by the states. The University claimed that they were intentionally trying to remediate a historic inequity and foster diversity within the school. The Supreme Court was left to decide if the specific affirmative action policy is constitutional and if race can ever be considered a factor in admissions.

Why was the University of California Davis affirmative action program created?

Because of this long discriminatory history, the University of California Davis Medical School created an affirmative action program to better diversify its student body , and the nation’s upcoming doctors. In the 1971 version of this policy, UC Davis set aside sixteen out of one hundred admissions for students of color. However, these students still had to meet the qualifications. Allan Bakke, a White man, applied to UC Davis’ Medical School twice, but was rejected both times. Bakke was rejected by all twelve medical schools to which he applied. Since Bakke had a higher grade point average and test scores than the minority students admitted to UC Davis Medical School, he claimed he was rejected because of his race.

Why did Justice Powell and Justice John Paul Stevens disagree?

They also gave more weight to racial classifications serving an important objective of diversity. However, Justice John Paul Stevens disse nted for a different reason, claiming that affirmative action policies are a direct violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Overview

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978), was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. It upheld affirmative action, allowing race to be one of several factors in college admission policy. However, the court ruled that specific racial quotas, such as the 16 out of 100 seats set aside for minority students by the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, were impermissible.

Background

U.S. Supreme Court consideration

Reaction

Aftermath

See also

External links