Federal Lawsuit Filed Against UNV Medical School Over Alleged Race-Based Admissions
The Liberty Justice Center (LJC) filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM) on Tuesday, alleging that the institution is violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by continuing to use race-based criteria in its admissions decisions under the guise of “diversity.”
The lawsuit is brought on behalf of Michael Jakiche, a highly qualified New Mexico resident who was denied admission to UNM’s medical school in both the 2024 and 2025 application cycles. According to the LJC, Mr. Jakiche’s academic credentials, including his GPA and MCAT scores, exceeded those of students who were admitted in both years.
The core of the allegation rests on UNM’s continued emphasis on “diversity” as a factor in admissions, nearly a year after the landmark 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC. That decision largely held that race-based admissions policies and the reliance on “student body diversity” as a compelling interest are unlawful.
Despite acknowledging that Mr. Jakiche’s metrics were superior to those of admitted applicants, UNM’s advisement materials and decision letters for both cycles reportedly referenced “diversity” as a consideration.
The school maintained that applicants were ranked based on “individual qualities” as well as “the experiences and diversity that they will contribute to the entering class.” Furthermore, correspondence from an Associate Dean allegedly used the specific term “diversity” as a measurement used when admitting students.
“Universities have discriminated in admissions for so long, they apparently don’t know how to stop,” said Reilly Stephens, Senior Counsel for the Liberty Justice Center. “Even after the Supreme Court finally made it clear that rigging the system for preferred demographic groups is illegal, it’s proving necessary to remind these institutions of their responsibilities again and again—and so we will.”
This lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the LJC to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The organization had previously sent letters to over 150 medical schools in July 2023, immediately following the SFFA decision, urging them to comply with the ruling or face legal action.
The case, Jakiche v. Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.
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