BUZZ
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Harvard University seeking detailed admissions data to determine if the Ivy League institution is following the Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action.
U.S. District Court Judge Myoung Joun on Nov. 2 dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, meaning the decision was largely a procedural one, and the Justice Department could refiled the complaint.
“No finding is made concerning the ultimate enforceability or permissible scope of any properly issued demand for admissions information,” Joun wrote in his 10-page ruling, which determined the feds committed procedural errors by failing to adequately pursue voluntary compliance with administrators or provide them proper warning before taking legal action.
However, Joun did note “federal officials had made repeated requests for records and warned Harvard of potential enforcement action,” Fox News reported.
The Trump administration seeks individual applicant records from Harvard, including application essays. The Justice Department sued Harvard in February, claiming campus leaders were stonewalling.
“The dismissal marks a win for Harvard in a prolonged dispute over whether the University must hand over applicant-level admissions data to prove it is complying with the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision barring race-conscious admissions,” the Harvard Crimson student newspaper reported.
MORE: Lobbying to keep affirmative action alive at Harvard in full swing
