The U.S. Department of Justice has formally announced that it will no longer give the American Bar Association (ABA) special treatment in the judicial nominations process, a move that marks a significant shift in long-standing federal policy.
In a letter to ABA President William R. Bay, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the organization will no longer receive early access to judicial nominees or have a unique role in evaluating them. The DOJ says the change is meant to ensure equal treatment for all organizations commenting on judicial nominees.
“For several decades, the American Bar Association has received special treatment and enjoyed early access to judicial nominees,” Bondi wrote. “Moving forward, the ABA will be treated like any other advocacy organization.”
The letter also notes that judicial nominees will no longer be required to respond to ABA questionnaires or sit for interviews with the group.
The decision has drawn strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, called the move “a seismic change” and argued it could reduce the thoroughness of the vetting process for lifetime judicial appointments.
“This is an unjustified and blatantly political move,” Durbin said, adding that the ABA has historically played a key role in evaluating the professional qualifications of judicial nominees.
During the Trump administration, the ABA rated several early nominees as “not qualified,” but many were still confirmed by the Senate. Critics of the ABA have accused the organization of bias, while supporters argue its reviews are based on professional standards and merit.
The announcement comes as the Judiciary Committee prepares to review a new group of judicial nominees. One recent nominee, Emil Bove—formerly an acting deputy attorney general—has already sparked discussion after his role in dropping corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to begin confirmation hearings for the new slate of nominees in the coming weeks.
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