Judge Dismisses Justice Department Lawsuit Against Harvard

A federal judge threw out the government's bid to obtain Harvard admissions records tied to an investigation into race in student admissions.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in College Applications

Judge Dismisses Justice Department Lawsuit Against Harvard

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US District Judge Myong Joun dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking Harvard University's admissions records. The Justice Department had filed the case before Joun in February as part of an investigation into whether Harvard complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Why it matters

The ruling comes after the US Supreme Court's 2023 decision against race-conscious admissions programs, and it bears on how far federal authorities can compel universities to hand over applicant-level data. The administration contends it needs years of that data to determine whether race remains a factor in admissions.

The lawsuit sought Harvard admissions records as part of a Title VI investigation, and Harvard has previously won rulings blocking the administration's effort to terminate over $2 billion in grants. Whether the Justice Department will appeal the dismissal has not been reported.

The players

Myong Joun

Myong Joun is a US District Judge in Boston who presided over the case and dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit against Harvard.

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the target of the federal admissions records demand.

US Department of Justice

The US Department of Justice is the federal department that filed the lawsuit seeking Harvard's admissions records.

The details

Harvard argued the Justice Department sued without first taking legally required steps to secure voluntary compliance. Harvard's lawyers contend the case was filed to retaliate for the university's refusal to overhaul its governance, hiring and academic programs.

February 2026: The Justice Department filed the admissions records lawsuit against Harvard.
Early February 2026: Trump ended settlement talks with Harvard and sought $1 billion in damages.
November 2, 2026: Judge Joun dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit.

Legal Context

The dispute follows the US Supreme Court's 2023 decision striking down race-conscious admissions programs. The Justice Department's effort to obtain applicant-level records tests how far federal civil rights enforcement can reach into university admissions after that ruling.

Prospective applicants at selective US colleges may see admissions practices shift as universities respond to federal scrutiny of race-conscious policies. Families weighing where to apply may find that federal enforcement outcomes influence how schools describe their admissions criteria.

The takeaway

Applicants should look closely at each school's published admissions policies, since legal fights over admissions data continue to shape how colleges disclose their criteria. Keeping track of court outcomes can help families understand the rules that apply to their applications.