Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College et al

Filing 73

MOTION for Leave to File Reply Memorandum In Support Of Motion To Stay by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(Ellsworth, Felicia)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON DIVISION STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC., Plaintiff, v. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE (HARVARD CORPORATION), Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-14176-ADB Defendant. HARVARD’S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE A REPLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION TO STAY Pursuant to Local Rule 7.1(b)(3), Defendant President and Fellows of Harvard College (“Harvard”) respectfully seeks leave of the Court to submit a nine-page reply in support of its Motion to Stay (Dkt. 58). The Proposed Reply Memorandum of Law is attached to this Motion as Exhibit A, and a supporting declaration is attached as Exhibit B. Pursuant to Local Rule 7.1(a)(2), undersigned counsel hereby certify that we have conferred in good faith with counsel for the Plaintiff, but have been unable to resolve the issues presented by this motion. A reply memorandum is necessary because in its Opposition (Dkt. 71), Plaintiff Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (“SFFA”) makes several assertions of law and fact that require a response. First, SFFA mischaracterizes the governing standard for the grant of a stay. Second, SFFA misstates the issues before the Supreme Court in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, No. 14-981 (“Fisher II”). Third, SFFA’s arguments about Fisher II’s potential effect on this litigation ignore the significant effect that Supreme Court affirmative action precedent has on all stages of this litigation. Finally, allowing Harvard to file this Reply will not cause delay in the 1 consideration of these issues because Harvard will file its Reply in advance of the July 21, 2015 status conference. WHEREFORE, Harvard respectfully requests that the Court grant its motion for leave to file a reply in support of its Motion to Stay. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Felicia H. Ellsworth Seth P. Waxman (pro hac vice) Paul R.Q. Wolfson (pro hac vice) WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR LLP 1875 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20006 Tel: (202) 663-6800 Fax: (202) 663-6363 seth.waxman@wilmerhale.com paul.wolfson@wilmerhale.com Debo P. Adegbile (pro hac vice) WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR LLP 7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 Tel: (212) 295-6717 Fax: (212) 230-8888 debo.adegbile@wilmerhale.com Felicia H. Ellsworth (BBO #665232) WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR LLP 60 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Tel: (617) 526-6687 Fax: (617) 526-5000 felicia.ellsworth@wilmerhale.com Dated: July 21, 2015 Counsel for Defendant President and Fellows of Harvard College 2 CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE In accordance with Local Rule 7.1(a), I hereby certify that counsel for Harvard has conferred with counsel for Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. in a good faith effort to resolve or narrow the issues presented in this motion. /s/ Felicia H. Ellsworth Felicia H. Ellsworth CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that this document filed through the CM/ECF system will be sent electronically to the registered participants as identified on the Notice of Electronic Filing and that paper copies will be sent to those indicated as non-registered participants on July 21, 2015. /s/ Felicia H. Ellsworth Felicia H. Ellsworth 3

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