Grutter v. Bollinger
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
188 F.3d 394 (1999)
The University of Michigan (UM) (through admissions officer Bollinger, defendant) gave preference to Black and Latino applicants in admissions; white applicants Barbara Grutter and Jennifer Gratz (plaintiffs), who were denied admission, sued UM alleging equal-protection violations. A group of Black and Latino applicants, prospective applicants, and organizations (petitioners) moved to intervene under Rule 24(a)(2), arguing the suit threatened their access to public education and that UM might not adequately represent their specific interests. The district court denied intervention, finding UM could adequately represent the petitioners, and the petitioners appealed.
Whether Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24(a)(2) allows a petitioner to intervene as of right when the existing parties may be unable to adequately protect the petitioner's interest in the case's outcome.