Filed Date: June 18, 2025
Closed Date: Oct. 10, 2025
Clearinghouse coding complete
The case challenged alleged racial and sex discrimination by the Michigan Law Review, a student law journal at the University of Michigan Law School, in its selection of members and articles.
On June 18, 2025, Faculty, Alumni, and Students Opposed to Racial Preferences ("FASORP") filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. FASORP sued the Michigan Law Review Association ("MLR"), its editor-in-chief, managing editor, and executive development editor, four anonymous MLR members who would help select new members as part of the journal's Holistic Review Committee ("HRC"), the University of Michigan, its Board of Regents, and its general counsel and vice president.
FASORP alleged that MLR used race and sex preferences in selecting its members and articles -- specifically, that MLR discriminated against heterosexual and cisgender white men. Concerning membership selection, 40% of new members are selected to join MLR based solely on their scores on application exercises. The remaining 60% are selected via a holistic process by the Holistic Review Committee. FASORP argued that MLR required applicants to submit a short personal statement with their application and then awarded discriminatory preference to applicants with allegedly preferred characteristics during HRC. In addition, FASORP alleged that MLR impermissibly discriminated in favor of authors with allegedly preferred characteristics when choosing manuscripts to publish.
Represented by the America First Legal Foundation and private counsel, FASORP sought declaratory and injunctive relief. It also asked that the court appoint a monitor to oversee all decisions relating to membership and article selection.
On July 30, 2025, FASORP dismissed all the individual defendants (though it reserved the right to amend its complaint to re-add those defendants), and the parties agreed to extend the time for the defendants to respond to the complaint, to October 13, 2025. Then on October 10, FASORP voluntarily dismissed the entire case.
The case is closed.
Summary Authors
Avery Coombe (6/18/2025)
Clearinghouse (10/11/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70578806/parties/faculty-alumni-and-students-opposed-to-racial-preferences-fasorp-v/
Levy, Judith Ellen (Michigan)
Flowers, Benjamin Michael (Michigan)
Benjamin, Jasmine (Michigan)
Conley, Danielle (Michigan)
Feinerman, Gary Scott (Michigan)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70578806/faculty-alumni-and-students-opposed-to-racial-preferences-fasorp-v/
Last updated Oct. 11, 2025, 6:37 p.m.
State / Territory: Michigan
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 18, 2025
Closing Date: Oct. 10, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A non-profit membership organization opposed to racial and sex preferences in academia.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Michigan Law Review (Washtenaw), Non-profit or advocacy
University of Michigan (Washtenaw), State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis: