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That cozy relationship is done.
“Some administrations would even decide whether to nominate an individual based on a rating assigned by the ABA,” Bondi noted.
The reason for the drastic decision? The ABA has, in Bondi’s words, become an “activist organization” that consistently skews its evaluations in favor of Democratic nominees.
“Unfortunately, the ABA no longer functions as a fair arbiter of nominees’ qualifications, and its ratings invariably and demonstrably favor nominees put forth by Democratic administrations,” she wrote.
“There is no justification for treating the ABA differently from such other activist organizations and the Department of Justice will not do so.”
In effect, Bondi’s announcement severs any remaining institutional pipeline between the DOJ and the ABA. The group will no longer be granted access to bar records, background material, or nominee questionnaires — nor will potential judges be expected to participate in private interviews with the organization.
“Specifically, the Office of Legal Policy will no longer direct nominees to provide waivers allowing the ABA access to non-public information, including bar records. Nominees will also not respond to questionnaires prepared by the ABA and will not sit for interviews with the ABA,” Bondi wrote.
This decision lands as President Donald Trump unveiled six new judicial nominations, part of his ongoing efforts to reshape the federal judiciary with constitutional conservatives.
One of the most high-profile nominees is Emil Bove, a seasoned DOJ official tapped for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Trump announced the pick personally via Truth Social: “It is my great honor to nominate Emil Bove to serve as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Emil is a distinguished graduate of Georgetown Law, and served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York for nearly a decade, where he was the Co-Chief of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit.”
Trump added, “Emil is SMART, TOUGH, and respected by everyone. He will end the Weaponization of Justice, restore the Rule of Law, and do anything else that is necessary to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Emil Bove will never let you down!”
Bondi’s rebuke of the ABA is more than symbolic — it represents a seismic shift in how judicial vetting will occur under Trump’s leadership. By cutting out what she describes as a partisan middleman, Bondi and Trump are making it clear that judicial appointments will be based on merit, not politics.
For decades, the ABA carried the aura of impartiality, but recent years have eroded that trust among conservatives who view its influence as slanted. With Bondi’s directive, the DOJ is now aligning its policies with that growing sentiment — and sending a signal that the old establishment rules no longer apply.
Whether the legal world cheers or fumes over this development, one thing is certain: under Bondi’s DOJ, the ABA just got benched.
