On January 14, 1946, petitioner, a Negro, applied for admission to the School of Law of the University of Oklahoma. She was concededly qualified to receive the professional legal education offered by the State. The University of Oklahoma law school was the only institution for legal education supported and maintained by Oklahoma taxpayers. Her application was denied solely because of her color.
Issue
Whether a state that provides legal education through a state institution may deny a concededly qualified applicant admission solely because of race, while providing legal education to white applicants during the same period, consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Rule
A qualified applicant is entitled to secure the legal education afforded by a state institution, and the State must provide that education in conformity with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as soon as it provides legal education to applicants of any other group.
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One of 10 multiple-choice questions for this case. Pick an answer to see why.
In Kansas, Prairie State College of Law is the only law school supported by state taxpayers. Jordan Ellis, a Black applicant whose academic qualifications are undisputed, is denied admission because the school says it is not prepared to enroll Black students, while qualified white applicants begin classes that fall.
If Jordan seeks relief under the Fourteenth Amendment, which is the strongest argument?
Explanation. The controlling rule is that a concededly qualified applicant is entitled to the legal education afforded by a state institution, and the State must provide it in conformity with equal protection as soon as it provides legal education to applicants of any other group. A denial based solely on race while white applicants are admitted at the same time violates that rule. (Derived from Sipuel v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma (1948).)