Affirmative Action Legal Briefs
Affirmative Action Legal Briefs
 
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Since 2003, AERA has filed several amicus briefs that comprehensively lay out the research evidence for the educational benefits of diverse education environments and the positive impact of affirmative action admissions policies on students' educational experiences and their careers.  

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc., v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc., v. University of North Carolina, et al. (2022)
AERA and six other leading research associations yesterday submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of narrowly tailored race-conscious admissions practices at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

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Full Brief (PDF)


Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin (2015)
AERA's 2015 amicus brief in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin summarizes the body of scientific research on affirmative action and diversity in higher educationTo see the amicus brief, post-Fisher updates, and other information and resources, click here

Full Brief (PDF)


Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin (2012)
AERA's 2012 amicus brief in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin summarizes the body of scientific research on affirmative action and diversity in higher educationTo see the 2012 amicus brief, post-Fisher updates, and other information and resources, click here. 

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Full Brief (PDF)


Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 and Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (2006)
Both cases, ruled on jointly by the Supreme Court, focused on district policies encouraging integration that allowed for race to be used as a “tiebreaker” for public choice of high schools in Seattle and as a factor in determining elementary school assignments in Louisville.

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Related briefing
Full Brief (PDF)


Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)
AERA filed amicus curiae briefs in Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger, both relating to admissions policies at the University of Michigan. Gratz addressed the university’s undergraduate admissions; Grutter, its law school admissions. In Gratz, the court struck down the university’s policy, which awarded points for various factors including race. In Grutter, however, the court upheld the law school admissions policy. 

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Full Grutter v. Bollinger Brief (PDF)
Full Gratz v. Bollinger Brief (PDF)
Related briefings

 

 
 
AERA Research on Affirmative Action
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"Toll-free" AERA journal articles inclusive of all substantive journal content regarding affirmative action published since 2009. Read more

 
 
Why Affirmative Action Works
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The Science Behind Affirmative Action

AERA's amicus brief in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin summarizes the body of scientific research on affirmative action and diversity in higher education. To see the amicus brief, post-Fisher updates, and other information and resources, click here.