Texas becomes first state to end American Bar Association oversight of law schools
Texas is now the first state in the U.S. to eliminate American Bar Association oversight of its law schools, ending the state's 42-year-long reliance on the national organization.
The Texas Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday finalizing a tentative September opinion, asserting the ABA should "no longer have the final say" on which law school graduates can take the bar exam — a requirement to becoming a licensed lawyer in each state.
"The Court advised that it intends to provide stability, certainty, and flexibility to currently approved law schools by guaranteeing ongoing approval to schools that satisfy a set of simple, objective, and ideologically neutral criteria using metrics no more onerous than those currently required by the ABA," reads the order signed by all nine justices.
The change means law school graduates who want to practice in Texas are no longer required to attend an ABA-accredited school. The power to approve those law schools now rests solely with the state's highest civil court.
In the absence of national guidance, however, the Texas Supreme Court stipulated in Tuesday's order that it intends to preserve graduates' ability to use Texas law school degrees in other states and out-of-state law degrees in Texas. The court also doesn't anticipate immediate changes to the current list of approved law schools and could return to relying on a different multi-state accrediting entity in the future.
https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-01-06/texas-supreme-court-ends-american-bar-association-law-school-accreditationOpen linkView original on lemmy.world
How exactly does Texas intend to do this in states that are not Texas? Do they not realize that they only have jurisdiction in Texas?
The degrees should hold just like they have for as far back as I know. They’d have to pass the new state's bar exam if they want to practice, though because no one else is doing that.
But is the question of whether or not the degrees will continue to hold after bar oversight is removed up to States in which the person will be practicing, or can Texas dictate that they must accept such degrees in the future?
I honestly don't actually know how accreditation and licensing and lawyer stuff actually works.
Maybe the "lawyer" they used hadn't passed their bar exam yet.
This is part where the lawyer eats the bar logo
A corrupt SCOTUS. Simple as that. TpUsa certified lawyers coming to a shadow Confederacy near you.
I don't think it can mean anything even in the best case scenario. If a Texas lawyer is now allowed to use their toilet paper degree in other states that doesn't mean they have to get hired.
If someone is dumb/cheap enough to hire one, they're going to get a shitty lawyer.
this fucking state ....
At least you won't have to worry about Texan lawyers practicing in other states, they'll stay here and make a mockery of justice.
Decertify all law schools in Texas.
Problem solved.
This is a disease. Texas needs to be biopsied.
It’s another indicator of the rot in that country as well.
It’s falling apart.
And if you believe that one, I have a mountain chalet in Florida to sell you.
The latter shouldn't be a problem, but I'm guessing that other states will be less enthusiastic about accepting lawyers accredited by the Cowboy Court..
Probably depends on the state. I won’t be surprised to see other red states follow this lead.
Sorry, I thought you was corn
Have fun with that TX. Worst state in the union.
lol I hope students of Texas law schools enjoy not being able to get hired outside of Texas. Fucking idiots.
What we should expect to see shortly is a Red State Bar Association that’s respected by SCOTUS, and under circumstances where SCOTUS can, it will force blue states to accept its law.
so what you are describing is the Full Faith and Credit Clause (US Constitution Article 4, Section 1) and specifically thinking of ways in which it might be abused similar to the Dred Scott decision
JFC.
If you're in Texas, get out.
If you're staying in Texas to ride the shit wave for your own enrichment, fuck you.
If you're planning on moving to Texas, WHY?
Have you ever been to Texas? Longest drive i ever took was to Austin from San Francisco. Half of it was through Texas. Leaving it is not just some casual thing. But i agree with you.
In theory this is not a bad idea, it could bring down costs for educating new lawyers. Extreme skepticism for texas' motives in doing this though. Texas has never cared about anyone's cost except the oil barons.
Edit: my guess is the thing texas is worried about is professional standard and corruption getting their best toadies disbarred.
My brother in laws dad was a judge for 30+ years in a southern state.
Never went to law school. Just sat for the BAR exam for the hell of it, passed, and the rest is baffling to me.