Florida Supreme Court challenges ABA’s grip on law school accreditation amid ‘woke’ policy clash
The Florida Supreme Court has been exploring alternatives to reduce the state's reliance on the American Bar Association (ABA) for law school accreditation and bar admission requirements. This comes after the ABA cited St. Thomas University College of Law for failing to comply with equal-opportunity rules in August 2023. Despite the citation, the law school remains fully accredited.
In March 2025, the Florida Supreme Court established a workgroup to investigate this matter. The workgroup submitted its final report on October 27, 2025, proposing a dozen alternatives to lessen Florida's dependence on the ABA. Meanwhile, St. Thomas University, which encourages social contributions and has a diverse student body, is facing the ABA's concerns. The law school has been asked to submit a report and potentially appeal to resolve these issues.
Florida's attorney general has stepped in, defending the university against the ABA citation. The attorney general suggested that the ABA's actions may violate Florida civil rights laws and force schools to engage in discrimination. Furthermore, the attorney general accused the ABA of promoting 'woke' policy values and infringing upon the university's free expression rights. Despite these accusations, the ABA's council, which is independent of other ABA work, has standards that accommodate law schools with religious missions.
The Florida Supreme Court is actively reconsidering the ABA's role in Florida Bar admission processes and exploring alternative accreditation options. St. Thomas University College of Law, while fully accredited, is working to address the ABA's concerns and maintain its commitment to diversity and social responsibility. The attorney general's intervention highlights the complex interplay between legal education, accreditation standards, and institutional autonomy.
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