On Wednesday, March 26, 2003, the School of Law held a dynamic forum on affirmative action, only days before oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court, in the University of Michigan affirmative action cases. The forum was part of a series of activities leading up to the demonstration on April 1st , in front of the Supreme Court on the day of the oral arguments. Professors William Robinson, Christine Jones, and William McLain comprised the panel of David A. Clarke School of Law professors who spoke to the history of affirmative action and the cases before the Court. Professors Susan Waysdorf and Laurie Morin joined the panelists in the planning and served as moderators. The two companion cases stemmed from challenges to the University of Michigan’s undergraduate admissions policies (Gratz v. Bollinger) and the law school’s admissions policies (Grutter v. Bollinger).

Speaking to a standing-room only crowd, Professor McLain began the panel discussion by setting the context for the legal issues which were before the Court in the Gratz and Grutter cases. His remarks included a description of the legal issues addressed in the Bakke case and its progeny. Professor Jones then provided a comprehensive history of the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, setting the historical context for affirmative action. Professor Robinson focused his remarks on the record in the University of Michigan cases. He presented a detailed explanation and analysis of the record in the two cases, and the supporting documentation submitted to the Court in support of the Bakke holding and affirmative action in education. A spirited question and answer session, driven by the many students in attendance, followed the panelists’ presentations.

On the morning of April 1st , thousands of students, teachers, labor activists, civil rights advocates and others from around the country, demonstrated at the Supreme Court and then marched to the Lincoln Memorial, in support of affirmative action. Included among the demonstrators were a vocal contingent of students from David A. Clarke School of Law. Inside the Court was 2L Chuck Detling, who had stayed out in line all night to witness history in the making! On Monday, June 23, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the landmark decisions in Gratz and Grutter. Although the decisions are complex and different from one another, the law school decision (Grutter) has been hailed as a resounding victory for affirmative action. The decision, written for the Court’s majority by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, upheld the Bakke decision, the use of race as an important factor in admissions policies and programs in higher education, and the importance of achieving student diversity, in which the state and our nation have a compelling interest.

More photos from the Forum and Rally on the next page...