Attorney General Pam Bondi has called on the American Bar Association (ABA) to immediately repeal its diversity and inclusion mandates for accredited law schools, asserting that these policies violate civil rights laws and the Supreme Court’s decision against affirmative action.
Background on ABA’s Diversity Standards
The ABA’s Standard 206 requires law schools to demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion, aiming for student bodies and faculties diverse in gender, race, and ethnicity. However, enforcement of this standard was suspended until August 31, 2025, as the ABA reevaluates its policies in light of recent legal developments. ?
Bondi’s Position
In her letter to the ABA’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, Bondi criticized Standard 206, stating it “blatantly violates” civil rights laws and contradicts the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. She emphasized that any requirement for law schools to demonstrate a commitment to diversity is problematic and urged the ABA to repeal the standard entirely.
DOJ’s Stance on DEI Initiatives
This action aligns with the Department of Justice’s broader efforts to scrutinize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Attorney General Bondi issued a memorandum directing the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to investigate and eliminate illegal DEI preferences and mandates in both the private sector and educational institutions receiving federal funds. ?
Implications for Legal Education
The ABA’s reconsideration of its diversity standards reflects ongoing debates about the role of DEI initiatives in legal education and compliance with recent legal rulings. The outcome of this reassessment could significantly impact accreditation requirements and the composition of student bodies and faculties in law schools nationwide.