What to Know About Fisher v. University of Texas

The Supreme Court sends the case back to lower court.

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What to Know About Fisher v. University of Texas - On June 24, the U.S. Supreme court ruled 7-1 to send the Fisher v. University of Texas case back to a lower federal appeals court for further judicial review. The justices decided that the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not hold the University of Texas’ admission policy under thorough legal scrutiny. Here are the key facts in the case. — Natelege Whaley(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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What Happens Next? - If the appeals court decides to strike down the Texas admissions policy, the case of Fisher v. University of Texas may limit race-based preferences in college admissions. This will overrule the 2003 case Grutter v. Bollinger, which made it legal. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Abigail Fisher Was Denied Admission at the University of Texas - Abigail Fisher and Rachel Michalewicz, two white women, applied to the University of Texas at Austin in 2008 and were denied admission. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Abigail Fisher Was Denied Admission at the University of Texas - Abigail Fisher and Rachel Michalewicz, two white women, applied to the University of Texas at Austin in 2008 and were denied admission. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Catch an Illegal Immigrant, Win $25 - A conservative student group at the University of Texas canceled plans to host a “Catch an Illegal Immigrant” contest organized by a former staffer of state attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott. The group, Young Conservatives of Texas, said the game's purpose was to promote discussion about immigration.  (Photo: Courtesy of Univeristy of Texas)

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Fisher Alleges University Denied Admission Based on Her Race - Fisher and Michalewicz filed a suit to a U.S. district court stating the university rejected them because of their race and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The clause states, “No state shall…deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."(Photo: Courtesy of Univeristy of Texas)

University of Texas’ Top 10 Percent Admission Policy - Under their top 10 percent admission policy, the University of Texas admits students in the top 10 percent of each Texas high school, regardless of their race. More than 80 percent of its 2008 freshmen class was accepted by this method. (Photo: Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman/ MCT /LANDOV)

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University of Texas’ Top 10 Percent Admission Policy - Under their top 10 percent admission policy, the University of Texas admits students in the top 10 percent of each Texas high school, regardless of their race. More than 80 percent of its 2008 freshmen class was accepted by this method. (Photo: Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman/ MCT /LANDOV)

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Fisher Felt She Deserved Admission - High school students like Fisher, who weren’t in the top 10 percent, could still be admitted to the University of Texas through a process that views students overall involvement in leadership roles, family circumstances, GPA and SAT scores and race. Besides having a 3.59 GPA, she was in the top 12 percent of her class, competed in math and orchestra competitions and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. (Photo: MATT SMITH/Express-Times /Landov)

Photo By Express-Times /Landov

Fisher Enrolls at LSU; Michalewicz Bows Out of Case - While the case developed, Fisher enrolled at the Louisiana State University and completed her studies in 2012. She became the sole plaintiff after Michalewicz withdrew from the case in 2012. She is now a law student at Southern Methodist University. (Photo: Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images)

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Fisher Enrolls at LSU; Michalewicz Bows Out of Case - While the case developed, Fisher enrolled at the Louisiana State University and completed her studies in 2012. She became the sole plaintiff after Michalewicz withdrew from the case in 2012. She is now a law student at Southern Methodist University. (Photo: Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images)

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District Court Upholds University’s Admission Policies - In 2009, U.S. District court judge Sam Sparks found the University of Texas’ admissions policy met the standards set by the 2003 case Grutter v. Bollinger, which allowed racial preferences in higher education. (Photo: Frances Twitty/Getty Images)

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Attorneys File a Petition of Review to Supreme Court - Fisher’s attorneys then filed a petition for review of the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. In February 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the request and took on the case for its October 2012 term.(Photo: Bruce Byers/Getty Images)

Photo By Bruce Byers/Getty Images

Supreme Court Hears Arguments in October 2012 - In October 2012, oral arguments from the university’s lawyer were heard by the justices. Their questioning centered on the university’s diversity goals for African-American and Hispanic students. They also seemed concerned about the university’s agenda to attract Black students from privileged backgrounds.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Supreme Court Hears Arguments in October 2012 - In October 2012, oral arguments from the university’s lawyer were heard by the justices. Their questioning centered on the university’s diversity goals for African-American and Hispanic students. They also seemed concerned about the university’s agenda to attract Black students from privileged backgrounds.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Justices Will Rule on Affirmative Action This Month - As the Supreme Court term comes to a close, affirmative action may be eliminated altogether from admission policies at public universities. Support for affirmative action has waned most recently. But opponents of the case have stated that removing it will threaten the future of racial diversity in America's workforce.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Justices Will Rule on Affirmative Action This Month - As the Supreme Court term comes to a close, affirmative action may be eliminated altogether from admission policies at public universities. Support for affirmative action has waned most recently. But opponents of the case have stated that removing it will threaten the future of racial diversity in America's workforce.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)