October Term 2022 · Docket 20-1199
Can universities use race in admissions?
the sides that brought the case argue Harvard's race-conscious admissions violate the Constitution. Harvard argues such practices serve a compelling educational interest.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Waxman argued that diverse student bodies benefit the nation.
Mr. Norris argued that racial classifications cause inherent harms.
Justice Kagan asked if both essay types are appropriate for consideration.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 96, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 96, lines 45-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether universities may consider race in admissions. the sides that brought the case claim this practice harms applicants. Harvard claims it builds diverse student bodies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 96, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 96, lines 45-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-37
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down Harvard's race-conscious admissions policy.
Harvard wants the Court to uphold its use of race in admissions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 96, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 96, lines 45-23
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue racial classifications cause inherent harms to applicants.
Harvard argues diverse student bodies benefit the nation and reduce prejudice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 96, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 96, lines 45-23
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked how to distinguish resilience from other obstacles.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the district court's statistical findings on race.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-49
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether universities may use race in admissions. It affects how colleges select students nationwide. It shapes the legal limits on diversity efforts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 96, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 96, lines 45-23
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-49
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 96, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 96, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 96, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 96, lines 45-23
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.