Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sues over law impacting MCW 

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12:15 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 to reflect comment from the Medical College of Wisconsin. 

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty has filed a lawsuit to block a state law that requires the Medical College of Wisconsin to make efforts to ensure 5 percent of its total enrollment consists of minority students in order to qualify for taxpayer dollars.

The conservative law firm is representing Citizens Defending Liberty, which its lawsuit describes as an “unincorporated association of taxpayers.” The two filed suit in a Waukesha County court against the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board, which oversees the state’s student financial aid system.

They’re asking for a judge to declare the law unconstitutional and permanently block it.

“Every aspiring doctor deserves a fair shot, and our clients should not be forced to bankroll unconstitutional discrimination,” Rebecca Furdek, institute deputy counsel, said in a Thursday statement.

Tammie DeVooght Blaney, executive director for the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board, declined to comment. MCW did not return a request for comment.

An MCW spokesperson said Friday that their admissions processes comply with federal law and a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down race-based admission programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. They noted federal law preempts state law, if there’s conflict. 

In August, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty wrote in a letter it was considering the lawsuit. When Wisconsin Health News asked about the letter during an interview last month, MCW CEO Dr. Shekar Kurpad said they’re “following the law to the T.”

“We’re also very conscious about making sure that health benefits all people,” he said. “We want to make sure that we can use our resources as wisely and as nimbly as possible to be able to benefit the maximum number of people.”