UC Berkeley Must Cut Enrollment, State Supreme Court Says: Report

BERKELEY, CA — UC Berkeley was dealt a major legal blow Thursday.

The university’s appeal for relief from a lower court ruling ordering the school to slash enrollment next fall has hit a wall. The California Supreme Court ruled against the school, meaning the school will have to cut enrollment by approximately 3,000 students, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

A lower court previously ordered the university to cut enrollment in response to a lawsuit by some community members, citing the ongoing housing crisis.

The court’s 4-2 ruling is expected to cost the university millions of dollars in lost tuition, the report said.

UC Berkeley also asked Supreme Court justices to put a hold on the lower court's ruling, but by refusing to review the case, justices denied the stay, too.

Justices Goodwin Liu and Joshua Groban dissented. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin said he is disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision. City officials oppose the enrollment cap.

The case remains before the California Court of Appeal. UC Berkeley sought to be heard before the state Supreme Court because offers of admission are scheduled to be made March 24.

— Bay City News contributed to this report

Read more in The San Francisco Chronicle