<P> On June 20 , 1974 , following his second rejection from UC Davis , Bakke brought suit against the university 's governing board in the Superior Court of California , Yolo County . He sought an order admitting him on the ground that the special admission programs for minorities violated the U.S. and California constitutions , and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act . UC Davis 's counsel filed a request that the judge , F. Leslie Manker , find that the special program was constitutional and legal , and argued that Bakke would not have been admitted even if there had been no seats set aside for minorities . On November 20 , 1974 , Judge Manker found the program unconstitutional and in violation of Title VI , `` no race or ethnic group should ever be granted privileges or immunities not given to every other race . '' Manker ordered the medical school to disregard race as a factor , and to reconsider Bakke 's application under a race - free system . After Manker entered final judgment in the case on March 7 , 1975 , both parties appealed , the university on March 20 because the program was struck down , and Bakke on April 17 because he was not ordered admitted . </P>
on what basis did alan bakke challenge affirmative action in 1978
on the ground that the special admission programs for minorities violated the U.S. and California constitutions , and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act