Conservative legal group files suit against Wisconsin bar challenging 'Diversity Clerkship Program'

A conservative legal group filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin state bar alleging its “Diversity Clerkship Program” violates the 14th Amendment and discriminates against multiple Wisconsin attorneys. 

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the lawsuit last week.

“When the government discriminates based on race, it sows more division in our country and violates the Constitution in the process," said the group's associate counsel, Skylar Croy. "WILL is standing up against  discrimination and holding the State Bar accountable to the rights of its due-paying members."

The clerkship program in question states law students must come from “backgrounds that have been historically excluded from the legal field​​ who are in good standing.”

Plaintiff in the case, Daniel Suhr, argues that internships should be open to all students. 

“Internships are competitive – as they should be," he said, according to The Daily Wire. "But when one group is  given preferential treatment over the other to apply for these programs, the programs lose competitiveness  and hurt all Americans. This also goes against my beliefs entirely. The State Bar should do better and expand  these opportunities to all Wisconsin law students."

The lawsuit also states that the program violates the equal protection rights of law students.