Case: United States v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)

1:26-cv-10844 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Feb. 13, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case concerns whether the government can compel Harvard College to produce detailed documents about its admissions processes to determine whether Harvard discriminates based on race. On February 13, 2026, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit in the U.S District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Harvard College to compel Harvard to comply with a Title VI investigation regarding whether the college considers race in its admission processes in violation of S…

This case concerns whether the government can compel Harvard College to produce detailed documents about its admissions processes to determine whether Harvard discriminates based on race.

On February 13, 2026, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit in the U.S District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Harvard College to compel Harvard to comply with a Title VI investigation regarding whether the college considers race in its admission processes in violation of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 600 U.S. 181 (2023). The DOJ claimed it was unable to determine whether Harvard followed the law because Harvard had failed to produce the necessary documents, including applicant-level data. The DOJ sued under Title VI and for breach of contract regarding a DOJ grant, seeking a declaratory judgment that Harvard violated Title VI, an injunction ordering Harvard to perform its contract and comply with Title VI by providing the requested documents, and an injunction ordering Harvard to comply with future document requests from the government pursuant to its Title VI authority. This case was assigned to District Judge Myong J. Joun.

On May 4, 2026, the DOJ filed an amended complaint alleging that Harvard had also failed to comply with the Department of Education's investigations. The amended complaint outlined in greater detail the administration's interactions with Harvard and compared the college’s actions to those of its peers, most of whom had complied with investigations. On June 3, 2026, Harvard filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. In an accompanying memorandum, Harvard explained that when a federal agency requests documents from a private party, the information must be relevant to an authorized congressional purpose, and proper procedures must be followed in issuing the demand. Harvard argued that the government’s information requests were overbroad and irrelevant, did not comply with proper procedures, and were not issued for a proper purpose. On June 4, 2026, Judge Joun cancelled a scheduling conference in light of the motion to dismiss.

The case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Vedant Vamshidhar (6/5/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72275604/parties/united-states-v-president-and-fellows-of-harvard-college-harvard/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Jankowski, Rachel (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Brooks, Eric (Massachusetts)

Delery, Stuart F. (Massachusetts)

Hur, Robert K. (Massachusetts)

Lehotsky, Steven Paul (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Jankowski, Rachel (Massachusetts)

Morrison, Jeffrey (Massachusetts)

Repper, Brian Lawrence (Massachusetts)

Zuckerman, Joshua Robert (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Brooks, Eric (Massachusetts)

Delery, Stuart F. (Massachusetts)

Hur, Robert K. (Massachusetts)

Lehotsky, Steven Paul (Massachusetts)

Levy, Joshua S. (Massachusetts)

Walker, Helgi C. (Massachusetts)

Womack, Eric R. (Massachusetts)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-10844	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief United States of America v. President and Fellows of Harvard College	Feb. 13, 2026	Feb. 13, 2026 Complaint
27 1:26-cv-10844	Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief United States v. President and Fellows of Harvard College	May 4, 2026	May 4, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72275604/united-states-v-president-and-fellows-of-harvard-college-harvard/

Last updated Sept. 8, 2026, 3:19 a.m.

Docket for: United States v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Feb. 13, 2026	COMPLAINT against PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE (HARVARD CORPORATION) (Fee Status: US Government), filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form, # 3 Exhibit A, # 4 Exhibit B, # 5 Exhibit C, # 6 Exhibit D, # 7 Exhibit E, # 8 Exhibit F, # 9 Exhibit G, # 10 Exhibit H, # 11 Exhibit I, # 12 Exhibit J)(Morrison, Jeffrey) (Entered: 02/13/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Category Form View on PACER 3 Exhibit A View on RECAP 4 Exhibit B View on RECAP 5 Exhibit C View on RECAP 6 Exhibit D View on RECAP 7 Exhibit E View on RECAP 8 Exhibit F View on RECAP 9 Exhibit G View on RECAP 10 Exhibit H View on RECAP 11 Exhibit I View on RECAP 12 Exhibit J View on RECAP	Clearinghouse
2	Feb. 13, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Jeffrey Morrison on behalf of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Morrison, Jeffrey) (Entered: 02/13/2026)	RECAP
3	Feb. 13, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Rachel Jankowski on behalf of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Jankowski, Rachel) (Entered: 02/13/2026)	RECAP
4	Feb. 13, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Brian Lawrence Repper on behalf of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Repper, Brian) (Entered: 02/13/2026)	RECAP
5	Feb. 13, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Myong J. Joun assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell. (SP) (Entered: 02/13/2026)	RECAP
6	Feb. 13, 2026	Summons Issued as to President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (SP) (Entered: 02/13/2026)	RECAP
	Feb. 13, 2026	Notice of Case Assignment
7	Feb. 17, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua Robert Zuckerman on behalf of United States of America (Zuckerman, Joshua) (Entered: 02/17/2026)	RECAP
8	Feb. 17, 2026	WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by United States of America. President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation) waiver sent on 2/13/2026, answer due 4/14/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Repper, Brian) (Entered: 02/17/2026)	RECAP
9	April 14, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Steven Paul Lehotsky on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation) (Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 04/14/2026)	RECAP
10	April 14, 2026	ANSWER to 1 Complaint, by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation).(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 04/14/2026)	RECAP
11	April 15, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua S. Levy on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation) (Levy, Joshua) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP
12	April 15, 2026	NOTICE of Scheduling Conference.The Initial Scheduling Conference is set for 5/13/2026 at 3:15 p.m. remotely by video before Judge Myong J. Joun. Counsel of record will receive a video conference invite at the email registered in CM/ECF. (SKY) (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP
13	April 16, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ORDER entered. STANDING ORDER REGARDING MOTION PRACTICE. (SP) (Entered: 04/16/2026)	RECAP
14	April 20, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Robert K. Hur Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11688523 by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit Robert K. Hur)(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 04/20/2026)	RECAP
15	April 20, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE OF RESCHEDULING The Initial Scheduling Conference is rescheduled to 5/26/2026 at 3:30PM remotely by video before Judge Myong J. Joun. Counsel of record will receive a video conference invite at the email registered in CM/ECF. (SKY) (Entered: 04/20/2026)	RECAP
	April 20, 2026	Notice of Rescheduling
16	April 21, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 14 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Robert K. Hur. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (SP) (Entered: 04/21/2026)	RECAP
	April 21, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear
17	April 27, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Eric Brooks Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11702678 by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification)(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 04/27/2026)	RECAP
18	April 27, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Eric R. Womack Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11702702 by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification)(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 04/27/2026)	RECAP
19	April 27, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Helgi C. Walker Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11702709 by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification)(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 04/27/2026)	RECAP
20	April 27, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Stuart F. Delery Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11702718 by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certification)(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 04/27/2026)	RECAP
21	April 28, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 17 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Eric Brooks. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by the newly admitted attorney. (SP) (Entered: 04/28/2026)	RECAP
22	April 28, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 18 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Eric R. Womack. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by the newly admitted attorney. (SP) (Entered: 04/28/2026)	RECAP
23	April 28, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 19 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Helgi C. Walker. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (SP) (Entered: 04/28/2026)	RECAP
24	April 28, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 20 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Stuart F. Delery. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (SP) (Entered: 04/28/2026)	RECAP
	April 28, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear
25	May 4, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Eric Brooks on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation) (Brooks, Eric) (Entered: 05/04/2026)	RECAP
26	May 4, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Eric R. Womack on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation) (Womack, Eric) (Entered: 05/04/2026)	RECAP
27	May 4, 2026	AMENDED COMPLAINT against President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation), filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Exhibit, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Exhibit, # 15 Exhibit, # 16 Exhibit, # 17 Exhibit, # 18 Exhibit, # 19 Exhibit, # 20 Exhibit)(Zuckerman, Joshua) (Entered: 05/04/2026) 1 Exhibit View on RECAP 2 Exhibit View on RECAP 3 Exhibit View on RECAP 4 Exhibit View on RECAP 5 Exhibit View on RECAP 6 Exhibit View on RECAP 7 Exhibit View on RECAP 8 Exhibit View on RECAP 9 Exhibit View on RECAP 10 Exhibit View on RECAP 11 Exhibit View on RECAP 12 Exhibit View on RECAP 13 Exhibit View on RECAP 14 Exhibit View on RECAP 15 Exhibit View on RECAP 16 Exhibit View on RECAP 17 Exhibit View on RECAP 18 Exhibit View on RECAP 19 Exhibit View on RECAP 20 Exhibit View on RECAP	Clearinghouse
28	May 8, 2026	MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 27 Amended Complaint, by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation).(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 05/08/2026)	RECAP
29	May 11, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 28 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 27 Amended Complaint. Answer due 6/3/2026. (SKY) (Entered: 05/11/2026)	RECAP
30	May 11, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE OF RESCHEDULING The Initial Scheduling Scheduling Conference is rescheduled to 6/24/2026 at 2:30 p.m. remotely by video before Judge Myong J. Joun. Counsel of record will receive a video conference invite at the email registered in CM/ECF. (SKY) (Entered: 05/11/2026)	RECAP
	May 11, 2026	Notice of Rescheduling
	May 11, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply
31	June 3, 2026	MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation).(Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 06/03/2026)	RECAP
32	June 3, 2026	MEMORANDUM in Support re 31 MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). (Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 06/03/2026)	RECAP
33	June 4, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE Canceling Hearing. In light if the recently filed Motion to Dismiss at [Doc. No. 31 ], the Initial Scheduling Scheduling Conference previously set for 6/24/2026 at 2:30pm is now CANCELLED. (SKY) (Entered: 06/04/2026)	RECAP
	June 4, 2026	Notice Cancelling Hearing
34	June 17, 2026	Opposition re 31 MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM filed by United States of America. (Zuckerman, Joshua) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
35	June 24, 2026	REPLY to Response to 31 MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation). (Lehotsky, Steven) (Entered: 06/24/2026)	RECAP
36	July 15, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE Setting Hearing on Motion re 31 Motion to Dismiss For Failure to state a claim. A Motion Hearing is set for 9/9/2026 at 2:30 PM in Courtroom 20 (In person only) before Judge Myong J. Joun. (SKY) (Entered: 07/15/2026)	RECAP
	July 15, 2026	Notice Setting or Resetting Hearing on Motion
37	July 22, 2026	Assented to MOTION to Continue Hearing on Motion re 31 Motion to Dismiss For Failure to state a claim to September 14, 2026, or in the alternative, any date thereafter that is convenient for the Court by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation).(Levy, Joshua) (Entered: 07/22/2026)	RECAP
38	July 22, 2026	Judge Myong J. Joun: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 37 Assented to Motion to Continue Hearing on Motion re 31 Motion to Dismiss For Failure to state a claim. (SKY) (Entered: 07/22/2026)	RECAP
39	July 22, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE Resetting Hearing on Motion re 31 MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM. The Motion Hearing is rescheduled to 9/24/2026 at 3:00 PM in Courtroom 20 (In person only) before Judge Myong J. Joun. (SKY) (Entered: 07/22/2026)	RECAP
	July 22, 2026	Notice Setting or Resetting Hearing on Motion
	July 22, 2026	Order on Motion to Continue

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government

Anti-discrimination case

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 13, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Private Entity/Person

Harvard College

Defendant Type(s):

College/University

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.

Other Dockets:

District of Massachusetts 1:26-cv-10844

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Education

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of United States v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation), Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48043/ (last updated 6/5/2026).