Supreme Court Affirmative Action Arguments

Justices heard oral arguments on two cases involving affirmative action and college admissions practices. At 10 a.m. the justices heard arguments in Grutter v. Bollinger, a case involving admission to the University of Michigan’s law school. At 11 a.m., they heard Gratz and Hamacher v. Bollinger, a case involving admission to the University of Michigan’s undergraduate program. Lee Bollinger served as the president of the University of Michigan at the start of the two suits. Among the issues in the case were the school’s interest in maintaining a diverse student body, consideration of race as one of many qualifying factors, and the degree to which the school’s admissions tests resembled quota systems.

The U.S. Supreme Court does not permit cameras in its proceedings. This video features audio with still picture images of the participants. close