Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/22pdf/20-1199_l6gn.pdf
Page Number: 198

Cite as:  600 U. S. ____ (2023) 

59 

SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting 

Asian American students.  Ante, at 43–44.  It is true that 
SFFA “allege[d]” that Harvard discriminates against Asian 
American students.  Ante, at 43.  Specifically, SFFA argued
that Harvard discriminates against Asian American appli-
cants vis-à-vis white applicants through the use of the per-
sonal rating, an allegedly “highly subjective” component of
the admissions process that is “susceptible to stereotyping 
and bias.”  Harvard II, 980 F. 3d, at 196; see Brief for Pro-
fessors  of  Economics  as  Amici  Curiae  24.    It  is  also  true,  
however, that there was a lengthy trial to test those allega-
tions, which SFFA lost.  JUSTICE THOMAS points to no legal 
or factual error below, precisely because there is none.

To  begin,  this  part  of SFFA’s  discrimination claim  does 
not even fall under the strict scrutiny framework in Grutter 
and its progeny, which concerns the use of racial classifica-
tions.  The personal rating is a facially race-neutral compo-
nent of Harvard’s admissions policy.38  Therefore, even as-
suming for the sake of argument that Harvard engages in
racial discrimination through the personal rating, there is
no  connection  between  that  rating  and  the  remedy  that
SFFA  sought  and  that  the  majority  grants  today:  ending 
the limited use of race in the entire admissions process.  In 
any event, after assessing the credibility of fact witnesses
and  considering  extensive  documentary  evidence  and  ex-
pert testimony, the courts below found “no discrimination
against Asian Americans.”  Harvard II, 980 F. 3d, at 195, 
n. 34, 202; see id., at 195–204. 

There is no question that the Asian American community 
continues to struggle against potent and dehumanizing ste-
reotypes  in  our  society.  It  is  precisely  because  racial  dis-
crimination persists in our society, however, that the use of 

—————— 

38 Before 2018, Harvard’s admissions procedures were silent on the use 
of race in connection with the personal rating.  Harvard II, 980 F. 3d, at 
169.  Harvard later modified its instructions to say explicitly that “ ‘an 
applicant’s  race  or  ethnicity  should  not  be  considered  in  assigning  the 
personal rating.’ ”  Ibid.