Conservative group sues ABA over Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund program

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Conservative group sues ABA over Authorized Alternative…

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Conservative group sues ABA over Authorized Alternative Scholarship Fund program

By Debra Cassens Weiss

April 17, 2025, 12:36 pm CDT

A bunch led by a conservative activist has filed a lawsuit alleging that an ABA scholarship program engages in “blatant discrimination” in violation of federal legislation.

The April 12 swimsuit filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a nonprofit group, says the scholarships are contractual in nature, and their restrictions on eligibility violate Part 1981 of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination in contracting.

The ABA is represented by Jenner & Block, one of many legislation corporations focused in a punitive govt order by President Donald Trump, Bloomberg Legislation experiences. Jenner & Block has filed a swimsuit difficult the order towards it.

The swimsuit by conservative activist Edward Blum’s group targets the ABA’s Authorized Alternative Scholarship Fund, which awards $15,000 scholarships to pick incoming legislation college students. Candidates have to be members of underrepresented racial or ethnic minorities, comparable to Black/African People, Native People, Hispanic People and Asian/Pacific Islanders, in accordance with the swimsuit, filed within the U.S. District Court docket for the Northern District of Illinois.

“Even when the scholarship didn’t flatly exclude whites on its face,” the swimsuit says, “the scholarship discriminates towards whites in utility and by design.”

The swimsuit seeks a declaration that the scholarships violate Part 1981, an injunction barring the ABA from contemplating race or ethnicity in this system, an order to reopen the appliance course of utilizing impartial standards, and nominal damages.

One other group that Blum created, College students for Honest Admissions, received a U.S. Supreme Court docket ruling in June 2023 that struck down race-conscious admissions packages in larger training.

The American Alliance for Equal Rights is represented by Lawfair and Consovoy McCarthy.

The aim of the brand new swimsuit, Blum stated in a press release, “is to not get rid of ABA’s scholarships however to make sure they’re primarily based on reputable standards, comparable to monetary want or benefit, fairly than race.”

The ABA doesn’t touch upon energetic litigation, in accordance with Jim Walsh, the chief communications officer and affiliate govt director of the ABA.

Publications overlaying the swimsuit embrace Legislation.com, Law360, Reuters and Bloomberg Legislation.

See additionally:

Activist who succeeded in ending affirmative motion targets legislation corporations’ range efforts

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