Court upholds affirmative action

DECEMBER 5, 2000

Potentially setting up a dispute headed for the Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upheld the use of affirmative action in the university admission process.

But since voters in the state where the lawsuit originated, Washington, have banned the use of race in admissions, the court said the lawsuit was rendered moot. However, since the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down affirmative action, the issue may have to be clarified by the Supreme Court.

A similar lawsuit has been filed against the University of Michigan. Michigan is in the Seventh Circuit.

Get the Decision:
Smith v. University of Washington (Ninth Circuit. No. 99-35209. December 2000)

Get the Story:
Court upholds race-based UW law school admissions (AP 12/5)

Related Stories:
Court limits affirmative action (Tribal Law 12/1)
University defends affirmative action (Indian U. 11/30)