In a recent development, deans from eight of Texas’ ten law schools have collectively urged the state’s Supreme Court to maintain its longstanding relationship with the American Bar Association (ABA) regarding law school accreditation. This appeal comes in response to the court’s consideration of ending the 42-year requirement that all lawyers admitted in Texas must graduate from an ABA-accredited institution.
The deans expressed concerns that allowing graduates from non-ABA accredited schools to sit for the state bar exam could “reverse decades of progress in measuring the excellence of legal education.” They also highlighted potential harm to the national reputation of Texas law schools and a consequent reduction in the availability of quality legal services within the state. This position was articulated in a letter dated June 28, which Bloomberg Law obtained through a public records request. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/texas-law-school-deans-want-state-to-maintain-aba-accreditation?utm_source=openai))
The signatories of the letter include deans from the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Baylor University, the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, South Texas College of Law, and St. Mary’s School of Law. Notably, the University of Texas School of Law Dean, Robert Chesney, suggested alternative approaches, such as maintaining the ABA requirement while allowing non-accredited schools to apply for waivers. Texas A&M’s Robert B. Ahdieh did not submit a comment.
This discourse arises amid broader national debates over the ABA’s role in law school accreditation. In April, the Trump administration issued an executive order considering the revocation of the ABA’s status as the federally recognized accreditor of law schools, citing concerns over the association’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-executive-order-says-abas-role-law-school-accreditor-may-be-revoked-2025-04-24/?utm_source=openai)) Additionally, the ABA has extended the suspension of its law school diversity and inclusion rule until August 31, 2026, following pressure from the administration. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/aba-keeps-law-school-diversity-rule-hold-into-2026-amid-trump-crackdown-2025-05-09/?utm_source=openai))
The Texas Supreme Court’s request for public input on this matter has elicited approximately 130 comments, evenly divided between support for maintaining the ABA requirement and advocating for its repeal. Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock has expressed concerns about the ABA taking political and ideological positions, questioning whether the state should “outsource our government power to a private entity that’s going to take political and ideological positions.” ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/texas-law-school-deans-want-state-to-maintain-aba-accreditation?utm_source=openai))
As the court deliberates on this issue, the collective stance of the majority of Texas law school deans underscores the significance of ABA accreditation in upholding the quality and reputation of legal education in the state.
In a recent development, deans from eight of Texas’ ten law schools have collectively urged the state’s Supreme Court to maintain its longstanding relationship with the American Bar Association (ABA) regarding law school accreditation. This appeal comes in response to the court’s consideration of ending the 42-year requirement that all lawyers admitted in Texas must graduate from an ABA-accredited institution.
The deans expressed concerns that allowing graduates from non-ABA accredited schools to sit for the state bar exam could “reverse decades of progress in measuring the excellence of legal education.” They also highlighted potential harm to the national reputation of Texas law schools and a consequent reduction in the availability of quality legal services within the state. This position was articulated in a letter dated June 28, which Bloomberg Law obtained through a public records request. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/texas-law-school-deans-want-state-to-maintain-aba-accreditation?utm_source=openai))
The signatories of the letter include deans from the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Baylor University, the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, South Texas College of Law, and St. Mary’s School of Law. Notably, the University of Texas School of Law Dean, Robert Chesney, suggested alternative approaches, such as maintaining the ABA requirement while allowing non-accredited schools to apply for waivers. Texas A&M’s Robert B. Ahdieh did not submit a comment.
This discourse arises amid broader national debates over the ABA’s role in law school accreditation. In April, the Trump administration issued an executive order considering the revocation of the ABA’s status as the federally recognized accreditor of law schools, citing concerns over the association’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-executive-order-says-abas-role-law-school-accreditor-may-be-revoked-2025-04-24/?utm_source=openai)) Additionally, the ABA has extended the suspension of its law school diversity and inclusion rule until August 31, 2026, following pressure from the administration. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/aba-keeps-law-school-diversity-rule-hold-into-2026-amid-trump-crackdown-2025-05-09/?utm_source=openai))
The Texas Supreme Court’s request for public input on this matter has elicited approximately 130 comments, evenly divided between support for maintaining the ABA requirement and advocating for its repeal. Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock has expressed concerns about the ABA taking political and ideological positions, questioning whether the state should “outsource our government power to a private entity that’s going to take political and ideological positions.” ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/texas-law-school-deans-want-state-to-maintain-aba-accreditation?utm_source=openai))
As the court deliberates on this issue, the collective stance of the majority of Texas law school deans underscores the significance of ABA accreditation in upholding the quality and reputation of legal education in the state.