Supreme Court Won’t Delay Michigan Ban On Race-Based Admissions

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to give the University of Michigan and two other state-run institutions a reprieve from a new law that bars them from using race as a factor in making admissions decisions.

The justices today rejected a bid by affirmative action advocates to delay implementation of a ballot initiative, approved by Michigan voters in November, barring race-based admissions. The University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University supported the request, as did Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm.

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The three universities said they had “profound worries” that abandoning their race-based policies in the middle of an admissions cycle “would have dire consequences.” The three universities said they nonetheless are now complying with the new law.

The universities and Granholm opted not to file their own requests for Supreme Court action, instead filing briefs in the bid by civil rights groups and student supporters of affirmative action.

Cox, a Republican, urged the court to reject the request for a delay, as did Eric Russell, a white man seeking admission to the University of Michigan Law School.

The case is Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action v. Cox, 06A678.