ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Late last week, a federal judge vacated a previous ruling that allowed the U.S. Naval Academy to consider race in its admissions processes.
The case in question is a 2023 lawsuit by a nonprofit called Students for Fair Admissions on behalf of applicants, including an anonymous candidate who claims he was qualified but was rejected based on race. Judge Richard D. Bennett ruled in December 2024 that it was permissible to consider race in the admissions process because the policies withstood strict scrutiny and could continue in the interest of national security.
The Naval Academy updated its admissions policy in March to align with President Donald Trump’s executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion, which ban race or sex considerations in the armed forces. In June, the Department of Justice and Students for Fair Admissions asked the Fourth Circuit to vacate the decision, as the new policy renders it moot. The court granted this motion.
Vacating the ruling is not just a formality — it has legal implications for the future of admissions at the Naval Academy and other colleges. It removes the precedent, making way for other military academies to enact their admissions policies without legal challenges. The decision alters the bases on which people can sue.
A congresswoman and appointee to the United States Naval Academy’s Board of Visitors released a statement on her website in March disagreeing with the Naval Academy’s policy change.
“Diversity is not just our greatest strength at home, but abroad, where diverse and multilingual troops can be the difference between a successful mission and a failure. Our sailors are a direct reflection of our country’s values across the world, and we only stand to benefit when we display the multitude of experiences and perspectives that our sailors hold,” the statement read.
The Navy and Naval Academy are a powerful cultural and economic presence in Southern Maryland. It remains to be seen how these changes will reverberate into the community and the workforce.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
I thought you were talking about the Maryland appeals court, the Governors hand picked court. Has anyone lost election to the appeals court? The court that once you get on, you don’t get off until you’re ready. (They’re not like the other candidates on the ballot)