John N. Pappanastos v. The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, Etc.

JAMES C. HILL, Circuit Judge:

The University of Alabama School of Law offers a graduate course of study in taxation. Admission to the program is selective. Among other qualifications, applicants must possess a J.D. or equivalent degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. John N. Pappanastos, appellant, was denied admission to the graduate tax program “solely because he [did] not [graduate] from an ABA accredited law school.” Pappanastos v. Board of Trustees, No. 77-380-N (M.D.Ala., filed Nov. 30, 1977), at 2. Pappanastos sued the university under 42 U.S.C. § 1983…