Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional in 2023, lawyers for the United States Naval Academy argue that aspects of the practice are necessary to build a cohesive academy during a civil trial in Maryland.
According to The Associated Press , the same party responsible for the case in which the Supreme Court’s conservative judges ruled that affirmative action was unconstitutional is responsible for this civil case against the United States Naval Academy.
Although the case brought by Students for Fair Admissions in 2023 resulted in the end of affirmative action on college campuses and a subsequent tidal wave of anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from several actors, including conservative governors and legislative bodies, the military service academies were left exempt from that ruling.
Conservative activist Edward Blum’s group, Students for Fair Admissions, eventually sued the United States Naval Academy, based in Annapolis, Maryland, in a bid to change that exemption from the affirmative action ruling.