• Pacific Legal Foundation filed our brief in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Dhilon Law Group filed an amicus for American Hindu Coalition, Chinese American Citizens Alliance Greater New York (CACAGNY), PLACE NYC, Friends of Lowell Foundation, No Left Turn in Education, Richmond Jewish Coalition and United Against Antisemitism - NOVA. 
• With many friends, we fight #UnFairfax County Public Schools as it attempts to continue its racism

See ruling below.

Alexandria, Virginia; February 25, 2022: Today, federal Judge Claude Hilton ruled that Fairfax County school officials violated the law by changing admissions requirements at the nation’s top public school to deliberately reduce the number of Asian-American students enrolled.

In March 2021, a coalition of parents, students, alumni, and community members filed a lawsuit challenging admissions changes at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ).

“This is a monumental win for parents and students here in Fairfax County, but also for equal treatment in education across the country,” said PLF attorney Erin Wilcox. “We hope this ruling sends the message that government cannot choose who receives the opportunity to attend public schools based on race or ethnicity.”

The Coalition for TJ said: "The Coalition for TJ is thrilled that Judge Claude Hilton has ruled in the favor of our parents, students, families and communities! In a scathing decision, Judge Claude Hilton ruled that Fairfax County Public Schools discriminated against Asian-American students in its new admission process to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. In his ruling, Judge Hilton stated, "The Board's main problem is its focus on the goal to have TJ reflect the demographics of the surrounding area, described primarily in racial terms. Far from a compelling interest, racial balancing for its own sake is 'patently unconstitutional'...The Board cannot transform racial balancing into a compelling interest 'simply by relabeling it racial diversity.'" This ruling is a victory for Coalition for TJ and for parents everywhere who are questioning the unlawful acts of runaway school boards. Fairfax County Public School officials colluded to discriminate against students. Judge Hilton has ruled this discrimination is unconstitutional. Coalition for TJ looks forward to a return to merit-based admission at America's #1 high school, a Governor's School."

Asra Nomani, cofounder of Coalition for TJ and an alumni parent of a TJ student who graduated in the Class of 2021, said: “Coalition for TJ is thrilled by Judge Claude Hilton’s clear renunciation of racism and discrimination and his powerful defense of equality. For almost two years, our courageous families have battled an incalcitrant and racist school board and superintendent intent on using ‘social justice,’ ‘equity’ and ‘anti-racism’ to perpetuate racism and discrimination against Asian students and families. Today’s decision is a victory for all students, all families and the United States of America. It is a victory for equality under the law, merit education and the American Dream. We are so grateful to the team at Pacific Legal Foundation for being relentless defenders of justice. May all parents, citizens and students have the moral courage and willpower of our families to stand up for their values and beliefs, as our amazing families have done.”

Suparna Dutta, a former TJ mother and cofounder of Coalition for TJ, said, “This is a huge victory. This is like the little guy winning against the ‘equity’ machine.”

Until last year, admission to TJ was race-blind and merit-based; requirements included a standardized test, grade-point average, completion of certain math classes, and teacher recommendations. Last year, the Fairfax County Public Schools’ board and superintendent adopted an admissions policy aimed at balancing the racial groups at TJ by eliminating the admissions test, guaranteeing seats for 1.5 percent of each middle school’s eighth grade class, and awarding bonus points for various factors such as attendance at a middle school previously underrepresented at TJ. The intended result: dramatically reducing the number of Asian-American students admitted to TJ.

Pacific Legal Foundation represents the Coalition for TJ free of charge. Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division. Judge Hilton granted the Coalition’s motion for summary judgment, giving them a win in the case.

 We love Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and we congratulate every student accepted for admission into the TJ Class of 2025. Fairfax County Public Schools has also broken the hearts of many deserving students by waging a crusade against Asian students at the school, first by proposing a random lottery and later by implementing the current race-balanced “holistic” admissions system that amounts to social engineering. 

School district leaders eliminated the merit-based, race-blind admissions test to the school and replaced it with a race-based admissions process that targeted Asian students with discrimination.

The percentage of Asian students offered admissions to TJ plummeted from 73 percent last year to 54 percent this year. Asians were the only demographic group whose numbers decreased from last year to this year, while the number of white students in this TJ class increased a whopping 43 percent to 123 students accepted this year from 86 last year. 

We seek fairness for all families and students, and we reject the racism of the ideology of “critical race theory” that promotes admissions lotteries and race quotas while killing merit. We will continue to fight for an American Dream in which all people have equal protection under the law.