DeFunis v. Odegaard Case Brief Summary | Law Case Explained

Summary

In the case of De Funis v. Odegaard, Marco De Funis, a white applicant, sued the University of Washington Law School for alleged racial discrimination in its admissions process. The school categorized applicants into racial minorities and general groups, using different criteria for admission. De Funis, with a borderline GPA, was waitlisted while minority applicants with lower averages were admitted. The trial court ruled in his favor, but the Washington Supreme Court reversed the decision, upholding the law school's policy. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, highlighting the complexities of affirmative action in higher education.

Takeaways

• 📚 Marco De Funus applied to the University of Washington Law School in 1971.
• 📉 The school received 1600 applications but could only accept 275 applicants.
• 🗂️ Applicants were divided into two groups: racial minorities and general applicants.
• 📊 A predicted first-year average was created using GPAs and LSAT scores for general applicants.
• 🚫 Those with an average of 77 in the general group were most likely admitted, while those below 74.5 were rejected.
• 🔢 De Funus had an average of 76.23, which was below the admission threshold for general applicants.
• 🏆 Minority applicants were evaluated on different criteria and not compared directly to general applicants.
• 📉 37 minority applicants were admitted, all but one had lower averages than De Funus.
• ❌ 30 minority applicants had averages below 74.5, which would have resulted in rejection if in the general pool.
• 🔄 De Funus was placed on the waiting list and later denied admission, leading him to sue the law school.
• 🏛️ De Funus claimed the admissions practice discriminated against him on the basis of race, violating the 14th Amendment.
• 🏢 The trial court initially found in favor of De Funus and ordered his admission, but this was reversed on appeal.
• 🏛️ The Washington Supreme Court held that the admissions policies did not violate the constitution.
• 📜 The United States Supreme Court stayed the judgment and granted certiorari for further review.

Q & A

What was the name of the case involving Marco De Funis and the University of Washington Law School?

The case was known as De Funis versus Odegaard.

In what year did Marco De Funis apply to the University of Washington Law School?

Marco De Funis applied to the University of Washington Law School in 1971.

How many applications did the University of Washington Law School receive in 1971?

The school received 1600 applications in 1971.

What was the acceptance rate of the University of Washington Law School in 1971?

The school could accept 275 applicants out of the 1600 who applied.

How did the admissions committee categorize applicants for the University of Washington Law School in 1971?

The admissions committee sorted applicants into two groups: one for racial minorities and another for general applicants containing everyone else.

In which group was Marco De Funis placed by the admissions committee?

Marco De Funis was placed in the general applicants group.

What was the predicted first-year average for general applicants with the highest likelihood of admission?

In the group of general applicants, those with an average of 77 had the highest likelihood of admission.

What was Marco De Funis' predicted first-year average, and how did it compare to the admission threshold?

Marco De Funis had a predicted first-year average of 76.23, which was below the threshold of 77 for the highest likelihood of admission.

How were minority applicants evaluated by the admissions committee, and were they compared to general applicants?

Minority applicants were considered regardless of average and were not compared directly to general applicants; the committee evaluated a different range of criteria.

How many minority applicants were admitted to the University of Washington Law School, and what was their average compared to De Funis'?

37 minority applicants were admitted, all but one had averages lower than De Funis', and 30 had averages below 74.5.

What was the outcome of De Funis' lawsuit against the law school for alleged racial discrimination?

The trial court found for De Funis and ordered the law school to admit him, but the Washington Supreme Court reversed the decision, holding that the admissions policies did not violate the constitution.

What action did the United States Supreme Court take regarding the case after the Washington Supreme Court's decision?

The United States Supreme Court stayed the judgment pending its decision and granted certiorari.