Paxton, Cornyn and Cruz prod U.S. Supreme Court to end affirmative action in college admissions

Barriers surrounded the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of planned demonstrations in 2021. The court on Monday heard arguments in two cases challenging the admissions processes at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. (Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune)

Texas looms large in the background of two pivotal affirmative action cases before the U.S. Supreme Court that could change how race is considered in American higher education admissions.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard back-to-back oral arguments in challenges to the race-conscious admission processes used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The court’s conservative majority appeared to lean toward ending affirmative action, while the three liberal justices defended the practice. A decision isn’t expected until June.