Robert Besser
16 Apr 2025, 09:39 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C: The U.S. Department of Justice has told its lawyers they can no longer attend or speak at events hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA). This is the latest step by former President Donald Trump's administration against the country's largest group of lawyers.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a memo that the ABA supports causes that go against the Justice Department's mission. He pointed out that the ABA had even sued to stop Trump from cutting foreign aid.
Blanche wrote that it doesn't make sense to spend taxpayer money on ABA events while the department is in legal battles with the group. He said the ABA can support activist causes if it wants, but the Justice Department shouldn't take part in events that might look like it's picking sides or being unfair.
The ABA didn't comment right away.
In the past, Justice Department officials used ABA events to announce new policies. For example, former Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke at one of their conferences last year.
But the Trump administration has criticized the ABA for claiming Trump was a threat to the rule of law and for defending judges and law firms under attack. A White House spokesperson once called the ABA a "snooty" group of "leftist lawyers."
Earlier this year, a top official at the Federal Trade Commission also banned political appointees from working with the ABA. The group is now facing pressure from Trump officials and Republicans to stop its efforts promoting diversity among lawyers and law students.
Attorney General Pam Bondi even warned that the ABA could lose its role as the official group that approves U.S. law schools unless it drops its diversity rules.
Get a daily dose of Belgium Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Belgium Sun.
More InformationLONDON - Google is facing a multibillion-pound legal challenge in the UK over allegations it misused its dominance in online search...
Lyft is making its first move into Europe with the purchase of mobility platform FreeNow, a nearly $200 million deal that signals a...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin's four local councils are joining forces to push for the introduction of a tourist tax, aiming to unlock a...
LONDON, UK: Electric vehicle sales surged globally in March, with strong growth in China and Europe offsetting slower momentum in North...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Residential burglaries have dropped by 75 per cent in Ireland over the past decade, according to new Garda figures,...
The truce is set to end at midnight on April 21, and the Russian leadership has not given an order to extend it, Dmitry Peskov has...
WASHINGTON DC - In a bid to combat illegal border crossings, the Trump Administration has enacted an emergency transfer of some 110,000...
More than 200 journalists and news photographers, together with family members, have been killed in Gaza in the last 16 months. Despite...
DALLAS, Texas--- The Texas health department has reported a slight rise in the number of measles cases statewide, rising to 561 from...
WASHINGTON, DC - A Trump administration early retirement plan at the Internal Revenue Service has been accepted by more than 22,000...
HONG KONG - Mail services between Hong Kong and the United States are the latest casualty in an escalating trade dispute, with Hong...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has announced that starting May 7 it will begin enforcing stricter...