Phil 347, Philosophical Foundations of Racism

Simons, Fall 03

Study Questions #1 (10 pts)

Due: August 27, 2003 (in class assignment, Peck Computer Lab, PH 1410)

Grutter v. Bollinger  [02-241]

http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme/html  [click on U.S. Laws: Cases and Codes; scroll to U.S. Supreme Court; click on Recent Decisions, and scroll down to Grutter v. Bollinger]

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/02slipopinion.html  [scroll down to Grutter v. Bollinger]

“Syllabus” or “headnote” [these questions refer to initial summary preceding the opinion]

1.      Who filed the suit against the University of Michigan Law School, and why was it filed?

2.      What was the finding of the District Court in the Case?

3.      What was the finding of the Sixth Circuit Court in the Case?

4.      What was the Supreme Court’s decision? [“Held”]

5.      What was the Bakke case and why is Justice Powell’s opinion important? (a)

6.      What educational benefits of diversity were seen as compelling by the court? (c)

7.      How often has the Law School accepted non minority applicants with grades and test scores lower than underrepresented minority applicants? (d)

8.      How long does the Court expect the Law School to continue to need to use racial preferences? (d)

9.      Which Supreme Court Justices delivered, joined, or concurred in part with the opinion of the Court?

10.   Which Justices filed dissenting opinions, or dissented in part?