Court Rejects Race-Based Admissions at Law School

By Mark Walsh

A federal appeals court last week struck down the use of racial preferences in admissions at the University of Texas law school, saying that government affirmative-action programs are not justified for the purpose of promoting racial diversity.

The decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit added new fuel to the nationwide debate over affirmative action and raised fears throughout higher education that minority preferences in admissions are in jeopardy.

"This will lead to the end of most programs [in higher education] with these types of ratios," said Theodore B. Olson, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs who...