Trial to determine fate of race-based admissions at US Naval Academy begins

A major legal battle is unfolding in Baltimore as the U.S. Naval Academy faces a trial that could reshape its admissions policies. The trial begins Monday , Sept. 23 and will decide whether the academy can continue using race and ethnicity as factors in its admissions process.

The case stems from a June 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down race-conscious admissions at universities. However, the court left a significant carve-out in its ruling that allows military academies to accept students based on race in the interest of diversity.

Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) brought the lawsuit against the Naval Academy. It is the same group that successfully challenged 45 years of affirmative action precedent in college admissions before the Supreme Court.

SFFA argues that the academy’s use of race in admissions violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution and seeks to extend the Supreme Court’s ruling to military institutions.

The court's 2023 decision specifically mentioned that military academies might be different. Federal officials argue that diversity is crucial for national security and effective military leadership.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent, highlighted historical issues with diversity in military leadership and emphasized the importance of a diverse officer corps.

Presiding over the trial is U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett, who has a military background and was appointed by President George W. Bush. In a recent decision, Bennett allowed the academy to continue considering race in admissions, citing the Supreme Court’s acknowledgment of compelling interests in military diversity.

The outcome of this trial will determine whether military academies can continue their affirmative action policies or if they will have to follow the same rules as other colleges and universities.

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