US Judge Dismisses Paul Weiss Lawsuit Seeking Federal Probe into Antisemitism at University of Pennsylvania
August 22, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the prominent law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison on behalf of two Jewish American civil rights groups, which sought to compel the U.S. Department of Education to reopen an investigation into alleged antisemitism at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). The ruling, issued on August 21, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in the District of Columbia, determined that all three counts in the complaint lacked sufficient grounds for judicial intervention.
The lawsuit, brought by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Jewish American Legal Defense and Education Fund, alleged that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) unlawfully halted an investigation into antisemitic incidents at Penn, violating its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plaintiffs claimed that OCR’s dismissal of the investigation, initiated in early 2024, was “arbitrary and capricious,” contravened notice and comment requirements, and deprived complainants of due process. The complaint argued that Penn failed to adequately address pervasive antisemitic incidents on campus, particularly following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In his memorandum opinion, Judge Contreras wrote, “The Court agrees with Defendants that all three counts in the complaint must be dismissed,” noting that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that OCR’s actions were unlawful or that judicial intervention was warranted. The University of Pennsylvania was not a party to the lawsuit, which focused solely on the Department of Education’s handling of the investigation.
This case follows a separate but related lawsuit filed in December 2023 by Penn students Jordan Davis, Noah Rubin, and alumnus Eyal Yakoby, alongside the nonprofit Students Against Antisemitism. That suit, also dismissed in June 2025 by Chief Judge Mitchell Goldberg, alleged that Penn created a hostile environment for Jewish students by tolerating antisemitic incidents. Goldberg ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show intentional discrimination or deliberate indifference by Penn, though he allowed them to file an amended complaint for two claims.
The Paul Weiss lawsuit stemmed from an administrative complaint filed by the Brandeis Center, which accused Penn of inadequate responses to antisemitic incidents. OCR initially opened an investigation but dismissed it two months later for procedural reasons, prompting the legal challenge. The plaintiffs, represented by a Paul Weiss team led by litigation partners Brad Karp and Gregory Laufer, argued that the dismissal violated statutory duties to protect students from discriminatory harassment.
The dismissal comes amid broader scrutiny of Paul Weiss, which faced controversy earlier in 2025 after reaching a settlement with the Trump administration to avoid an executive order targeting the firm’s federal contracts and security clearances. The agreement, which included a commitment to $40 million in pro bono work for causes like combating antisemitism, drew criticism from some legal professionals for setting a precedent of capitulation. Despite this, Paul Weiss has maintained a strong public stance against antisemitism, with Chairman Brad Karp leading efforts to unite law firm leaders in condemning such acts since 2021.
The SEC’s recent warning about unregistered investment platforms in Nigeria, such as GVEST Global, highlights the broader context of regulatory enforcement but is unrelated to this case. Posts on X reflect mixed sentiments, with some users praising the judicial outcome as a rejection of overstated claims, while others express concern over the handling of antisemitism allegations on college campuses.
The dismissal marks a setback for efforts to force federal intervention into campus antisemitism investigations, raising questions about the scope of OCR’s authority and the legal thresholds for such claims. The plaintiffs have not yet announced whether they will appeal or file an amended complaint.
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