Reid Compares Scalia To Trump For ‘Racist’ Affirmative Action Comments

The court’s only black justice, Clarence Thomas, remained silent throughout Wednesday’s hearing.

The case, Fisher v. University of Texas, was filed by Abigail Fisher, a white student who says the University of Texas denied her admission in 2008 because of her race. Shortly after Scalia’s comments first circulated on social media, the hashtag #BlackTexasEx was born, referring to the university’s Texas Exes alumni organization.

It may be true that many black scientists, as well as scientists of every race and ethnicity, do not obtain their education from schools as “selective” as University of Texas (a more selective university).

When asked about its official stance, the alumni organization tweeted that it did not agree with Scalia’s comments. “And the court was very skeptical of some of the arguments being pushed by the university but also had very strong questions for Ms. Fisher’s attorneys”.

The Supreme Court is once again debating the constitutionality of affirmative action. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, on the liberal side of the court, called this part of the plan problematic on its own because it discouraged students of color from leaving segregated high schools for arguably better opportunities. Alito expressed doubt over the suggestion that minority students admitted under the top 10 percent plan were not at the same level as those accepted under the standard review program, calling it “terrible stereotyping”. The specific brief in question was written by a conservative lawyer, Gail Heriot, who has previously argued against anti-discrimination policies in her position at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

In dissent, Judge Emilio Garza said the university’s justifications for using race were “subjective, circular or tautological”.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia jokes about his experiences as a law student at a program with fellow Justice Elena Kagan, Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 at the University of Mississippi.

He added: “I’m just not impressed by the fact that – that the University of Texas may have fewer [African Americans]”.

The most discussed line of questioning came from Justice Scalia, who argued that affirmative action may hurt black students.

Scalia, who was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, is the longest-serving justice now on the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court last considered the Fisher case in 2013, and sent it back after eight months to an appeals court to be reconsidered. Fisher was in the top 12 percent of her high school class and thus set in the secondary pool of potential students. Roberts asked Garre, who would not provide a date.

“And you had reports of racial isolation and a hostile racial climate with respect to African-Americans and Hispanics – a situation where the University of Texas was clearly not meeting its educational interests, its compelling educational interest in educating the future leaders of Texas”, Garre said. But Scalia made it clear student body diversity didn’t interest him.