Case: Californians for Equal Rights Foundation v. University of California Board of Regents
3:25-cv-01808 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Filed Date: July 16, 2025
Closed Date: Oct. 20, 2025
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This case is a lawsuit challenging a race-restricted scholarship program at the University of California San Diego (“UCSD”).
On July 16, 2025, the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (“CFER”) and a white student at UCSD filed a complaint against the University of California Board of Regents, UCSD and its chancellor, and The San Diego Foundation, which offers Black Alumni Scholarship Fund (“BASF”), and its board of executive chair. Plaintiffs brought suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, alleging that the racial preferences in BASF scholarship program violated the equal protection of the Fourteenth Amendment, federal civil rights statutes and California Constitution.
The plaintiffs alleged that UCSD created BASF in 1983 as a race-based program for black students, then transferred it to an off-campus profit in 1998 to avoid the prohibition on racial preferences in public education under the California Constitution. They claimed that despite the nominal transfer, UCSD continued to operate as a UCSD scholarship and conspired with BASF, including providing student racial information.
The plaintiffs sought declaratory relief, an injunctive relief to stop the alleged discriminatory practices, along with attorneys' fees and costs, and nominal damages. The case was assigned to Judge Roger T. Benitez, later reassigned to Judge Todd W. Robinson, and Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Butcher.
Only 3 months later, on October 20, 2025, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case. The background was not disclosed in any filing, but CFER reported on its website that the defendants offered and agreed to launch new scholarships to UCSD students based on individual needs, merit, and community service, to replace BASF.
The case has been settled and is now closed.
Summary Authors
Chise Mori (3/7/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70814064/parties/californians-for-equal-rights-foundation-v-university-of-california-board/
Robinson, Todd Wallace (California)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70814064/californians-for-equal-rights-foundation-v-university-of-california-board/
Last updated April 14, 2026, 5:13 a.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Accommodations/ Contracting/ Organizational Discrimination
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 16, 2025
Closing Date: Oct. 20, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A non-profit organization founded in California for protecting equal rights; and a White junior university student, who could not apply for a scholarship program due to the racial limitation of the program
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Non-profit or advocacy
The San Diego Foundation
State
University of California Board of Regents
University of California San Diego
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title IV, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000c et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Southern District of California 3:25-cv-01808
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Amount Defendant Pays: $0
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis:
Case Summary of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation v. University of California Board of Regents, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47840/ (last updated 3/7/2026).