From the New York Times;
The American Bar Association, the lawyers group that sets standards for the legal profession, eliminated on Tuesday a diversity requirement for law schools after facing pressure from the Trump administration.
The bar association said that the diversity requirement could jeopardize its role as an accreditor that oversees nearly 200 juris doctorate programs.
Vimal Patel, American Bar Association Ends D.E.I. Standards Under Trump Pressure, New York Times, September 8, 2026.
For other coverage, see Christine Charnosky, ABA Council Repeals Diversity Standard Amid Uncertainty About the Organization’s Future as a Law School Accreditor, Law.com, September 8, 2026; Jessica Blake, ABA Accreditation Council Votes on Long-Contested Diversity Standard, Insider HigherEd, September 8, 2026; Karen Sloan, US Lawyer Group Repeals DEI Rule for Law Schools as Accreditation Decision Looms, Reuters, September 8, 2026; Julianne Hill, ABA Legal Ed Council Repeals DEI Standard, ABA Journal, September 8, 2026.
For criticism of this action, see Legal Defense Fund, LDF Condemns ABA Decision Repealing Standard 206 That Advanced Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Law Schools and the Legal Profession and Calls on Law Schools to Continue Pursuit of these Lawful Goals, September 8, 2026.
