Street Law, Inc. and The Supreme Court Historical Society present

Landmark Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court

Street Law /

Understanding the Decision


Read the summary of the Court’s decision in this case.  As you read it, complete the following steps: 

  1. Underline the sentences that explain the reasons the Supreme Court ruled against the university and for Baake.    
  2. Circle the standard the Court applied when deciding whether race could be used as part of the university’s admission process. 
  3. Put a star next to justifications (or purposes) the university gave for treating minority and disadvantaged students differently in the admissions process.
  4. Fill in the blanks of these sentences:
    • In the 1978 Baakecase, the Supreme Court ruled that a university ____________________ (can / cannot) consider race in its admissions process. 
    • However, a system that uses ___________________ to reserve a certain number of spots for applicants who are from racial or ethnic minority groups is ________________________________.
  5. Write a paragraph to explain whether you agree or disagree with the Court’s decision.  Be sure to write about the reasons you agree or disagree.
< Regents of the University of California v. Bakke