SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. University of North Carolina

UPDATE: On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court’s majority opinion ended the consideration of race as one of many factors for qualified students in college admissions. The opinion ignores the substantial factual record supporting the lawfulness of Harvard and University of North Carolina’s admissions programs and discounts present and past racial inequities the 14th Amendment to our constitution was intended to address. Read the full statement from GLAD Executive Director Janson Wu.

Universities must continue considering race as part of their holistic admissions process. A diverse learning environment prepares students to thrive in our diverse nation.

GLAD joined the National Women’s Law Center and 38 organizations in a friend-of-the-court filing in the U.S. Supreme Court cases Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. The two cases, which will be heard in October 2022, address whether universities can consider race as one factor in admissions decisions (also known as affirmative action).

As the brief explains, the inclusion of people of color is central to achieving the benefits of a diverse student body, including countering harmful stereotypes, fostering the exchange of ideas, and preparing students for a diverse society.

Learn more: Read the blog post from the National Women’s Law Center

The amicus was signed by:

  • American Medical Women’s Association
  • Athlete Ally
  • California Women Lawyers
  • Center for Reproductive Rights
  • Chicago Foundation for Women
  • Family Equality
  • GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
  • KWH Law Center for Social Justice and Change
  • Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
  • League of Women Voters of the United States
  • Legal Aid at Work
  • Legal Momentum, the Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • Minority Veterans of America
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America
  • National Association of Social Workers
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • National Center for Lesbian Rights
  • National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
  • National LGBTQ Task Force
  • National Organization for Women Foundation
  • National Women’s Law Center
  • Ohio Council of Churches
  • People For the American Way
  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.
  • Reproaction
  • Shriver Center on Poverty Law
  • Southern Poverty Law Center
  • Southwest Women’s Law Center
  • Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association
  • The Center for Constitutional Rights
  • The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
  • The Women’s Law Center of Maryland
  • Women Employed
  • Women Lawyers On Guard Inc.
  • Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
  • Women’s Law Project