Big Ten Law Deans Affirm Support for Diversity as Supreme Court Decision Looms

With two key Supreme Court decisions expected this week on the future of affirmative action in higher education, Linda Sheryl Greene, Dean of the Michigan State University College of Law, has joined the fifteen deans of the Big Ten law schools in a statement that affirms support of diversity, equity and inclusion in legal education and the legal profession.

In a widely distributed statement the deans are “joining together to affirm our commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through legally permissible means, regardless of the outcome of the cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.”

The cases – Students for Fair Admission v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admission v. President & Fellows of Harvard College – were argued before the Supreme Court in October but the Court has not yet announced its opinion. It is expected to do so before its term ends this week on June 30.

In the Big Ten statement, the deans said they would respect the decision yet “...remain open and accessible to people of diverse backgrounds whom we believe will succeed as lawyers and leaders serving the diverse communities that constitute our nation.”

“I joined MSU College of Law as Dean because of my commitment to expand the role of the College of Law in service to Michigan, a state of many diverse communities,” said Dean Greene. “The broad access to the legal profession and to legal services are consistent with our nation’s commitment to equal justice under law. MSU College of Law would like to be the preeminent law school in Michigan that prepares the next generation of lawyer leaders to serve diverse communities in Michigan and beyond. I will participate in two webinars July 5-6, with other Big Ten deans, analyzing the opinions and looking to the future.”

A link to information about the Big Ten Dean webinars about this topic is available here.

“The conversation about access to legal education and legal services are vital and necessary,” Dean Greene said. “Along with the Big Ten law schools, Michigan State University College of Law will continue to lead that conversation.”