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A judge who served in the military for over 20 years upholds use of race in Naval Academy admissions, citing national security
BYLea Skene and The Associated PressDecember 7, 2024 at 6:59 AM GMT+8
Incoming plebes (freshmen) take part in their Oath of Office Ceremony during Induction Day at the U.S. Naval Academy on June 29, 2023 in Annapolis, Maryland.
Kevin Dietsch—Getty Images
A federal judge on Friday ruled that the U.S. Naval Academy can continue considering race in its admissions process, finding that military cohesion and other national security factors mean the school should not be subjected to the same standards as civilian universities.
During a two-week bench trial in September, attorneys for the academy argued that prioritizing diversity in the military makes it stronger, more effective and more widely respected.
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The group behind the case, Students for Fair Admissions, also brought the lawsuit challenging affirmative action that resulted in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. The high court’s conservative majority broadly prohibited the consideration of race and ethnicity in college admissions, ending a longstanding practice meant to boost opportunities for historically marginalized groups and sending shockwaves through higher education. But it carved out a potential exemption for military academies, suggesting that national security interests could affect the legal analysis