Ever wonder who is fighting for you?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HNBA Contact: Antonio 'Tony' Arocho (202) 223-4777
August 13, 2012 NAPABA Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202)775-9555
NBA Contact: Steven Jumper (202) 842-3900
NNABA Contact: Jeremy Aliason (405) 761-1723
Coalition of Bar Associations of Color United in Support of the Use of
Diversity in Admission Programs in Higher Education
Files Joint Brief at U.S. Supreme Court in Fisher v. University of Texas
WASHINGTON – The Coalition of Bar Associations of Color (CBAC)–the Hispanic National
Bar Association (HNBA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the
National Bar Association (NBA) and the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) –
will file a joint amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court today in Fisher v. University of
Texas at Austin. The Court will review the constitutionality of the race conscious admissions
program used to admit the freshman class at the University of Texas at Austin. With oral
arguments scheduled for October 10th, the four organizations recognized the significance of all
four communities of color standing together in support of race-conscious admission policies in
order to promote diversity in the legal profession. The brief discusses the unique perspectives of
the communities each bar association represents, and highlights the importance of ensuring
access to institutions of higher education, in order to preserve a diverse pipeline for our
multicultural society and ultimately advance CBAC’s shared commitment to diversity in the
legal profession.
“The National Bar Association is proud to stand with our CBAC partners in making yet again the
strong argument, that now is not the time to turn back the clock or efforts on diversity in the
U.S.,” NBA President John Page said. “Over the past decade, we have taken significant strides
forward but we know that our collective work to achieve a diverse and inclusive society is far
from over. The Court as before should uphold the applaudable and critical efforts of any and all
institutions of higher education in their continuing mission to reflect society and its diversity
within their environment and not jeopardize the progress made and sought by law schools and
the legal community to simply reflect the rich diversity that makes this nation great.”
"The Hispanic National Bar Association believes that there is a compelling governmental interest
in achieving diversity in higher education and supports upholding the use of race-conscious
admissions programs in education," said HNBA National President Benny Agosto. "For that
reason we join our partner bar associations of color in the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color
in filing a joint brief in the Fisher vs. University of Texas case," added Mr. Agosto.
“The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association recognizes that like other groups, Asian
Pacific Americans have endured a long history of racial discrimination and continue to face
barriers to equal opportunity,” said Nimesh M. Patel, president of NAPABA. “Asian Pacific
Americans, along with all other students at the University of Texas, reap the educational benefits
that flow from a diverse student body. Further, the low representation of Asian Pacific
Americans in prominent positions in government, elected offices, boards of directors and
executive positions in large corporations, and in the legal profession underscores the importance
of both access to higher education and the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and experiences that
is fostered by a diverse learning environment.”
“The National Native American Bar Association believes that the pipelines for students of color
to higher education and beyond cannot be removed now,” shared NNABA President Patty
Ferguson-Bohnee. “Race conscious admissions programs not only open doors for students of
color they also ensure a richer and intellectually diverse classroom experience for all students.”
