Affirmative action appears in jeopardy after US supreme court hearing

Race-conscious admission programs, twice upheld by highest court, now under scrutiny by skeptical conservative supermajority

The survival of affirmative action in higher education appeared to be in serious trouble on Monday at a conservative-dominated US supreme court after hours of debate over difficult questions of race.

The court is weighing challenges to admissions programs at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University that use race among many factors in seeking a diverse student body.