Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)Barbara Gutter v. The University of Michigan Law School
Barbara Grutter
Brief Summary: In the case of Grutter V. Bollinger, a Caucasian female by the name of Barbara Grutter applied for admissions to the University of Michigan Law School in 1997 but was denied admission. Grutter sued the school in 1997 but was the case was not argued in the Supreme Court of the United States until 2003. Grutter claims that she was denied admission to her race. Grutter felt as though she was not admitted due to the enrollment process of the university.
Grutter's Argument: Although Grutter received a GPA of 3.8 in her undergraduate and a LSAT of 161, she was denied acceptance into the University of Michigan Law School. She felt as though the white race was being discriminated against and minorities had a greater chance in acceptance at the university. Grutter felt as though this discrimination and bias against her race violated the fourteenth amendment.
University of Michigan Law School's Argument:
University of Michigan Law School believes in a diverse student body through compliance with Regents of Univ. of Cal. v. Bakke.The school also claimed that there were several determining factors when deciding on the admission of students. These factors included but were not limited to test scores, undergraduate GPA and a few subjective factors such as race, and ethnicity.
Ruling / Decision: Votes: 5 votes for Bollinger, 4 votes against
The court ruled the that Equal Protection Clause does not prohibit race as a admissions decision due to their rigorous review of each applicant. Acceptances and rejections are not automatically determined by race. Other factors (test scores, undergraduate scores, essays, and other subjective factors) were being determined. They determined that race may be one of the factors but not the determining factor.
Affects on Students, Teachers, and Education:
Students are subjected to having their race as one of the determining factors of their acceptance into college.
Teachers will continue to have diverse students.
All student admitted in the university will receive the same level of education amongst a diverse group of students.
Brief Summary:
In the case of Grutter V. Bollinger, a Caucasian female by the name of Barbara Grutter applied for admissions to the University of Michigan Law School in 1997 but was denied admission. Grutter sued the school in 1997 but was the case was not argued in the Supreme Court of the United States until 2003. Grutter claims that she was denied admission to her race. Grutter felt as though she was not admitted due to the enrollment process of the university.
Grutter's Argument:
Although Grutter received a GPA of 3.8 in her undergraduate and a LSAT of 161, she was denied acceptance into the University of Michigan Law School. She felt as though the white race was being discriminated against and minorities had a greater chance in acceptance at the university. Grutter felt as though this discrimination and bias against her race violated the fourteenth amendment.
University of Michigan Law School's Argument:
University of Michigan Law School believes in a diverse student body through compliance with Regents of Univ. of Cal. v. Bakke.The school also claimed that there were several determining factors when deciding on the admission of students. These factors included but were not limited to test scores, undergraduate GPA and a few subjective factors such as race, and ethnicity.
Ruling / Decision:
Votes: 5 votes for Bollinger, 4 votes against
The court ruled the that Equal Protection Clause does not prohibit race as a admissions decision due to their rigorous review of each applicant. Acceptances and rejections are not automatically determined by race. Other factors (test scores, undergraduate scores, essays, and other subjective factors) were being determined. They determined that race may be one of the factors but not the determining factor.
Affects on Students, Teachers, and Education:
Resources:
14th Amendment. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv
14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from http://public.getlegal.com/legal-info-center/14th-amendment-equal-protection-clause/
Alex, M. (n.d.). Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger (2003). Retrieved June 20, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/future/landmark_grutter.html
Alex, M. (2006, December 1). Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1978). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_regents.html
GRUTTER V. BOLLINGER. (2003, April 1). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/02-241.ZS.html
Grutter v. Bollinger. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2015, from http://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/ethics/ethics-keyed-to-hazard/the-structure-of-legal-practice/grutter-v-bollinger/2/
The University of Michigan Cases: Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from http://www.civilrights.org/equal-opportunity/gratz-grutter/
Additional Sources:
The Story of Barbara Grutter v. Bollinger
Gratz v. Bollinger
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action Cases