The Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division released a findings letter on Thursday concluding that Duke University School of Law violated federal civil rights laws by discriminating against white and Asian applicants. The investigation focused on admissions data from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 academic years. According to the DOJ, the law school’s admissions process utilized race as a factor in a manner that exceeded legal boundaries, effectively disadvantaging applicants based on their racial background.

The DOJ investigation was prompted by concerns regarding how the university weighed diversity metrics during the selection process. The findings suggest that the school’s internal policies allowed for racial considerations to influence outcomes in a way that the government now deems unlawful. This determination comes in the wake of broader national debates regarding the use of affirmative action and race-conscious admissions policies in higher education.

Duke University has not yet provided a detailed public rebuttal to the specific findings, though the DOJ letter indicates that the university is now under pressure to adjust its admissions criteria to comply with federal standards. The report highlights a shift in federal oversight regarding how private and public institutions manage diversity initiatives. While the investigation specifically targets Duke Law, the findings are being viewed by legal analysts as a significant indicator of how the current administration is applying civil rights statutes to university admissions practices. The DOJ has requested that the school take corrective actions to ensure future admissions cycles are conducted in accordance with the law, though the specific nature of these required changes remains a subject of ongoing discussion between the university and federal regulators.