Federal Judge Tosses Challenge to Use of Race in Admissions at US Naval Academy

A Maryland-based judge found that ‘a racially diverse officer corps is a national security interest.’

Members of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2023 complete squad combat course training as part of a program to transition the candidates from civilian to military life, in Annapolis, Md., on Aug. 1, 2019. ENS Marion Bautista/Released/U.S. Navy

A federal judge in Maryland threw out a challenge on Dec. 6 to the U.S. Naval Academy’s policy of considering race in admissions.

The new decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2023 that Harvard College’s use of affirmative action violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.