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Gratz v. Bollinger April 1, 2003 (02-516) return to case listing Case Summary Petitioners are white applicants whose applications for undergraduate admission have been rejected by the University of Michigan?s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). Petitioners claim that the University?s use of racial preferences in its admissions decisions violates the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A federal district court found the University?s actions constitutional, and the plaintiffs petitioned for certiorari even though the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals had not yet entered final judgment in their case, because the Sixth Circuit had issued a final decision in a similar case, Grutter v. Bollinger, 288 F.3d 732 (C.A.6-Mich. 2002), which challenged the University of Michigan Law School's consideration of race and ethnicity in making admissions decisions. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari from that decision on the same day that it granted certiorari in the instant matter. To see the opinion of the lower court, click here. PREDICTED OUTCOME ACTUAL OUTCOME Forecasting Model Expert One Expert Two Expert Three 5-4 to Reverse 6-3 to Reverse 6-3 to Reverse 5-4 to Reverse 6-3 to Reverse VOTING TO REVERSE Rehnquist O'Connor Scalia Kennedy Thomas Rehnquist Stevens O'Connor Scalia Kennedy Thomas Rehnquist O'Connor Scalia Kennedy Souter Thomas Rehnquist O'Connor Scalia Kennedy Thomas Rehnquist O'Connor Scalia Kennedy Thomas Breyer VOTING TO AFFIRM Stevens Souter Ginsburg Breyer Souter Ginsburg Breyer Stevens Ginsburg Breyer Stevens Souter Ginsburg Breyer Stevens Souter Ginsburg return to case listing