Education Department Launches Civil Rights Probe into Duke University’s Law Journal Selection Practices
WASHINGTON, DC - July 29, 2025 the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) initiated a federal investigation into Duke University and its Duke Law Journal, probing whether race, color, or national origin were improperly used in editor selection - potentially violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The inquiry centers on internal allegations that the Law Journal circulated a secret rubric - shared exclusively with law-school affinity groups - that awarded up to 10 extra points to applicants who discussed their membership in underrepresented groups, plus additional points for leadership roles in diversity activities. Critics argue the practice may amount to race-based preference over traditional merit-based evaluation.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. jointly sent a letter calling on Duke to review all race‑related policies - in hiring, admissions, scholarships - and to form a “Merit and Civil Rights Committee” with authority from the Board of Trustees to ensure reforms are durable and in compliance with civil rights law.
This investigation follows broader Education Department actions launched under the Trump administration, including earlier reviews of 45 universities, including Duke, over alleged “race-exclusionary practices” connected to participation in The Ph.D. Project program.
Duke has remained silent publicly on the immediate allegations. The outcome could imperil the university’s future eligibility for federal funding under its Title VI obligations. Observers see the probe as part of an escalating regulatory push targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies - raising concerns over academic freedom, meritocracy, and institutional autonomy