Supreme Courts Judgment in Grutter v Bollinger Case - Research Paper Example

Supreme Court’s Judgment in Grutter v. Bollinger Case Case and Decision Grutter v Bollinger is a case where the plaintiff sued the defendant for being discriminated against on the basis of race and denied admission at University of Michigan Law School. According to the plaintiff, the law school applied race as a predominant factor while giving preference of admission to applicants from some minority groups (Walker, Spohn, & Delone 210). Barbara Gutter, a white student from Michigan with a 3.8 GPA from undergraduate and LSAT score of 161 claimed that she had qualified for admission and that offering such slots on basis of race was a contravention of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1974 (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 208 & 210). In 2003, the Supreme Court delivered a ruling on the case stating that the University of Michigan Law School narrowly tailored use of race in admission decisions was constitutional (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 208). During this case the Supreme Court cleared the air by concluding that having a student body with diverse culture and origin is a compelling state interest hence justifies the use of racial factor in admission of students, effectively locking out Grutter from admission (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 210). Consequently, the judgment removed prolonged doubt that has existed within learning institutions, encouraging them to use racial factor in making admissions determinations. Argument on Decision I strongly agree with the Supreme Court’s decision in promoting racial interactions as well as considerations of the minorities through affirmative action. Even though many scholars such as Richard Sander have greatly proposed the affirmative action on basis that it hurts instead of helping, the truth is that many stakeholders have significantly benefitted from the same (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 209). Affirmative action is a constitutional concept that needs to be upheld with all dignity and integrity. In this regard, the University of Michigan’s Law School admission policy was able to pass the test of scrutiny since strict scrutiny has been considered for a long time as a relevant review standard especially in scenarios where the Constitution faces racial challenges (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 155). Various virtues of diversity within learning institutions were provided by the Supreme Court while delivering its judgment, which explains reasons for enhancing racial diversity through development of policies that promote affirmative action (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 208). Affirmative action within learning institutions has the capability of significantly improving educational environments (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 177). By deciding that higher learning institutions should take racial factor into account while determining admissions requirements, the Supreme Court was in a mission to improve educational environment in such institutions. The educational environment improves when students from different backgrounds and races share their unique experiences and perspectives with their classmates in a way that makes it possible for such learners to learn from different people. Even though it is not guaranteed that such students will freely interact, Grutter case was to compel institutions of higher learning to promote affirmative action and give room for interactions and exchange of ideas and experiences. On the basis of educational autonomy as enshrined in the First Amendment, institutions of higher learning have the capability of defining their own policies that meet specific goals and aims with regards to education. Educational autonomy calls for such institutions to focus on their missions in drafting any policy meant to affect the learning process (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 17). In Grutter v Bollinger case, I strongly agree with the Supreme Court’s decision. Supreme Court in this scenario accepted in good faith that University of Michigan Law School drafted admission policy that best serves its mission (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 141). In any case, educational autonomy in the First Amendment provides University of Michigan Law School with freedom to promote diversity hence develop admission policies towards the same through application of racial factor (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 155). Moreover, the court granted University of Michigan Law School the authority to draft its student body based on diversity as there were no contradicting views. Other than educational autonomy, I strongly agree with the court’s decision on basis of substantial benefits that accrue as a result of diversity in higher learning institutions (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 211). For instance, diversity in higher institutions of learning helps in promoting cross-racial understanding through interactions amongst students from different backgrounds and races. Had University of Michigan not adopted diversity mission and objective, the law school would have ended up with one type of race leading to lack of cross-racial understanding. In addition, diversity helps in breaking down racial stereotypes whilst providing favorable learning environment for students to better understand interpersonal differences (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 211). Different races have various interpersonal differences that need to be appreciated and upheld. This is only possible when there is diversity within higher learning institutions as decided by the court in Grutter v Bollinger case. In this case, the court’s ruling declared the significance of offering equal opportunity and access to public education for people from different sects of life. Law schools on the other hand are institutions that require talented and qualified students since it is a training ground for future leaders and lawyers. Such talented and qualified students can be obtained from different races and ethnicity hence the need to employ racial factor in admission decision (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 250). Admitting students from varied ethnicities and races provides an opportunity for enhancing participation in both learning and economic development from people belonging to different backgrounds. It is true that diversity is an important aspect of student body within higher institutions of learning (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 15). In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s decision has so far developed affirmative action not only amongst learning institutions but also other institutions as well such as the Corps (Walker, Spohn, & Delon 177). Work cited Walker, Samuel, Spohn, Cassia, & Delone, Miriam. The Color of Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Crime in America. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011.Print Read More