US Justice Dept bars its attorneys from participating in American Bar Association events [View all]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday barred its attorneys from traveling to or speaking at American Bar Association events, in the latest salvo by President Donald Trump's administration against the nation's largest voluntary lawyer group.

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a memo seen by Reuters said the ABA had been engaging in "activist causes" contrary to the department's mission, including by suing to block Trump from cutting funding to foreign aid organizations.

"The Department is actively litigating against the ABA, yet the Department continues to expend taxpayer dollars on ABA events," Blanche wrote.

He said while the ABA is free to "litigate in support of activist causes," he did not want the department to participate in events in their official capacities that might undermine its mission to remain "fair, effective and even-handed."

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By Sarah N. Lynch
April 9, 2025 6:03 PM EDT Updated 9 hours ago

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-justice-dept-bars-its-attorneys-participating-american-bar-association-events-2025-04-09/