A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Naval Academy may continue to consider race in its admissions process, despite a Supreme Court ruling that barred civilian colleges from using affirmative action policies. The judge rejected arguments that the Academy’s program was unconstitutional, siding with the Biden administration’s defense of the need for diversity in the military ranks. Edward Blum’s group, which opposes affirmative action, plans to appeal the decision, potentially taking the case to the Supreme Court.
The ruling comes as the fate of the admissions policy at the Naval Academy and potentially other military academies is uncertain with the upcoming transition to a new Republican administration. Blum’s group had previously won a case before the Supreme Court that invalidated race-conscious admissions policies at civilian colleges, but the judge ruled that considerations for military academies may have distinct interests.
The judge highlighted the importance of a diverse officer corps in the Navy and Marine Corps for national security, noting the disparities in the representation of racial minorities among enlisted members and officers. The ruling emphasized the need for a more balanced demographic among the leadership ranks, which the Naval Academy aims to address through its admissions process. The decision was seen as a win for proponents of affirmative action in the military, with the judge affirming the Academy’s efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive officer corps.
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