Blueprint for Law School Engagement with the Military

In Grutter v. Bollinger, law student amici provided significant support for the University of Michigan’s use of race as a factor in law school admissions. Although Grutter did not specifically refer to any of the briefs submitted by law students, the Court’s reliance on diversity interests echoed the students’ emphasis on the educational benefits of a diverse classroom and the instrumental benefits of a diverse legal profession. On the whole, the Court’s analysis in Grutter broke relatively little new ground, since it closely followed Justice Powell’s endorsement of diversity as a compelling interest in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke twenty-five years earlier.

By Diane H. Mazur

Diane H. Mazur is a Professor of Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is the author of a new book from Oxford University Press, "A More Perfect Military: How the Constitution Can Make Our Military Stronger" (2010). Her expertise includes Civil-Military Relations, Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility. Publications focus on civil-military relations under the Constitution, civilian control of the military, military law, and military service. She joined University of Florida Levin College of Law faculty as Assistant Professor in 1994. She was named Associate Professor in 1997, and Professor in 1999. In 1998, she received the "TIP" Teaching Award. Mazur was a visiting faculty member at University of California, Hastings College of the Law (2000-2001) and Former Captain (aircraft and munitions maintenance officer), United States Air Force. Earlier, she was in private practice with Modrall Law Firm, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1988-1992). She was also a Bigelow Teaching Fellow and Lecturer in Law, University of Chicago (1993-94). Mazur received her J.D., University of Texas (high honors), M.S., Penn State University, and earned a B.A. at the State University of New York at Binghamton.

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