Attorney General James Uthmeier is encouraging the Florida Supreme Court to sever ties between the state and the American Bar Association, which accredits law schools, amid ongoing conservative backlash against the nearly 150-year-old organization.
Uthmeier praised a move Jan. 6 by the Texas Supreme Court, which cut the necessity for law schools there to be approved by the ABA, instead leaving accreditation to the state’s high court.
“I recommended the same for Florida last July. I hope the Florida Supreme Court will soon follow suit and end the leftist accreditation cartel that is the ABA,” Uthmeier said.
In recent months, Uthmeier has confronted the ABA with criticisms head-on, in one instance accusing the organization of anti-Christian discrimination against a Florida Catholic law school.
Additionally, a panel appointed by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz issued a report in October including options for reducing the ABA’s “near monopoly” on law school accreditation. That court has not yet acted on the report.
More: Florida attorney general sparks debate on religious discrimination
Trump administration already cut ties with ABA
For decades, the ABA has been entangled in procedural operations in the government, whether it involves accrediting law schools so students could take the bar examination to become an attorney or having a say in federal judicial nominations.
Over the summer, the Trump administration decided to remove the ABA’s longstanding special access to review federal judicial candidates.
Prior to the Trump administration’s severing ties with the ABA over its review of judicial nominees, however, the Florida Supreme Court already had eyed whether those who want to practice law in Florida should continue to be required to have a juris doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school.
A March administrative order said the court is interested in “considering the merits” of these rules.
Also: Florida Supreme Court halts state Bar’s role in appointments to ABA policymaking panel
Uthmeier’s office did not respond to questions about whether it has been in contact with the Florida Supreme Court about moving forward with plans to sever the ABA’s ties, or about whether there are any plans in motion to follow Texas’ move.
The part of the ABA that accredits law schools, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions, said in a statement that its work is “separate and independent from the larger ABA.”
Its managing director, Jenn Rosato Perea, said that the greater ABA isn’t involved with the council’s enforcement actions and can’t dictate the content of any of its standards.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Florida Supreme Court – and all other state supreme courts and bar admitting authorities – to help preserve the portability of law school degrees throughout the country,” Perea said.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Uthmeier targets ABA law school accreditation role in Florida
