Though the court’s most conservative justices are all on the record being deeply skeptical of affirmative action, it was Justice Antonin Scalia who raised eyebrows Wednesday, as the court heard yet another case challenging a race-conscious policy.
“There are those who contend that it does not benefit African-Americans to — to get them into the University of Texas where they do not do well, as opposed to having them go to a less-advanced school, a less — a slower-track school where they do well,” Scalia said. “One of the briefs pointed out that most of the black scientists in this country don’t come from schools like the University of Texas. They come from lesser schools where they do not feel that they’re being pushed ahead in classes that are too fast for them.” He added, “
I don’t think it stands to reason that it is a good thing for the University of Texas to admit as many blacks as possible.”