Judges have dismissed Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action vs. American Civil Rights Institute, a lawsuit filed by 46 minority students and the CDAA. The lawsuit sought to overturn Proposition 209, California’s 1996 ballot initiative that prohibits race being used as a factor for consideration in university admissions. The affirmative action ban has been upheld several times since appeals began in 1997.

The judge panel heard arguments on Feb. 13, during which California Gov. Jerry Brown testified on behalf of the plaintiffs, saying that Prop. 209 was an obstacle for minority students. 

The American Civil Rights Institute, which was founded by former UC Regent Ward Connerly, applauded the decision to uphold the ban.

“[This is] good news for everyone who values fairness and equal opportunity,” ACRI lawyer Ralph Kasarda said in the San Francisco Chronicle.

In recent years, the percentage of Caucasian students at UC campuses has dropped nearly 5 percent while enrollment numbers for Hispanic and African American students have increased. UC admissions data is not yet available for 2012.