The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has accused Duke University School of Law of discriminating against White and Asian applicants by giving Black and Hispanic applicants a significant admissions advantage. According to a letter from the DOJ, Black applicants in 2025 had approximately 3.5 times higher chances of admission than Asian applicants with equivalent academic credentials.

This investigation began in April 2025 and follows the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which declared it unconstitutional for colleges to consider race in admissions decisions.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated, "Duke Law School doesn’t get a free pass to discriminate against white and Asian students simply because it thinks it has good intentions." She added that using diversity essay questions to identify preferred races remains illegal racial discrimination, and the DOJ is committed to eliminating such practices in law schools nationwide.

Duke Law has continued to publish reports emphasizing its diversity and efforts toward "race-neutral" admissions since the SFFA ruling. A Duke University spokesperson affirmed, "Duke is committed to complying with the law and will continue to do so in a manner that is consistent with our academic mission."

The allegations highlight ongoing debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in higher education admissions.

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