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Gratz v. Bollinger Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: The Supreme Court struck down the University of Michigan’s undergraduate affirmative action policy, finding its automatic 20-point award to minority applicants was not narrowly tailored to achieve educational diversity and thus violated the Equal Protection Clause.
Legal Significance: This case established that university affirmative action policies using a mechanical, points-based system that makes race a decisive factor, rather than one part of a holistic, individualized review, cannot survive strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause.
Gratz v. Bollinger Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Petitioners Jennifer Gratz and Patrick Hamacher, two qualified Caucasian applicants, were denied admission to the University of Michigan’s undergraduate College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). At the time, the LSA used a 150-point “selection index” to rank applicants, with a score of 100 generally guaranteeing admission. The admissions policy automatically awarded 20 points—one-fifth of the total needed for automatic admission—to every applicant from an “underrepresented minority” group, defined as African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. This bonus was granted solely based on an applicant’s racial or ethnic identity, without any individualized assessment of how that applicant might contribute to diversity. Other factors, such as outstanding personal achievement or a high-quality essay, were awarded significantly fewer points. The University defended the policy as a necessary means to achieve its compelling interest in the educational benefits of a diverse student body. Petitioners filed suit, alleging the policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does a university’s undergraduate admissions policy that automatically awards a fixed number of points to every applicant from an underrepresented minority group violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Yes. The University’s policy is unconstitutional because the automatic distribution of 20 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in repre
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does a university’s undergraduate admissions policy that automatically awards a fixed number of points to every applicant from an underrepresented minority group violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Conclusion
As a companion case to *Grutter v. Bollinger*, *Gratz* clarifies the constitutional Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat
Legal Rule
All racial classifications imposed by a government actor are subject to strict Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proiden
Legal Analysis
The Court applied strict scrutiny to the University's admissions policy. While assuming, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsu
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The Supreme Court struck down the University of Michigan’s undergraduate affirmative