What is the current status of the lawsuits?
A. A limited trial on certain discrete issues in the lawsuit challenging the Law School’s admission policy began in Detroit in mid-January and concluded in February. Judge Friedman issued his decision in March finding that the educational benefits of diversity were not a compelling interest and that the specifics of the Law School’s policy were not “narrowly tailored” to that interest. He also found that the interveners’ defense was essentially based on remedying societal discrimination, which is impermissible. He issued an order that the Law School cease considering race in its admissions process. On April 5, 2001, the Court of Appeals issued a stay of the District Court order while the appeal proceeds. In December 2000, Judge Duggan granted summary judgment in the University’s favor in a similar lawsuit against the University of Michigan undergraduate program. In that ruling, he found that the pursuit of the educational benefits of diversity is a compelling governmental interest, and
