U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
07/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/20/2026 07:25
Gill Announces Hearing on the Future of DEI in Law Schools and the Legal Profession
WASHINGTON-Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Constitutional Abuses Chairman Brandon Gill (R-Texas) today announced a hearing titled "The Future of DEI in Law School Accreditation and the Legal Profession." This hearing follows the Task Force's July 14, 2026 hearing on discriminatory, illegal, and unconstitutional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in workplaces and universities. During the hearing, members will analyze how the American Bar Association (ABA) has weaponized its accreditation authority to promote DEI policies that are contrary to federal civil rights law and the negative consequences in the legal profession that result from these harmful policies.Members will also explore how Congress can help permanently eliminate DEI policies within American institutions, including the legal profession and academy.
"DEI is a cancerous ideology that promotes unlawful discrimination and steals opportunities from Americans who would otherwise earn jobs and law school admissions spots on merit. The ABA has abused its accreditation power to force harmfully racist and often illegal DEI policies and coursework in law schools across the nation. The ABA's promotion of DEI has created poorly trained lawyers who prioritize political activism over following the law. Congress must do its part to identify harmful DEI policies within the ABA and legal profession to help root them out and ensure equal opportunity and access to justice for all Americans," said Task Force Chairman Gill.
WHAT: "The Future of DEI in Law School Accreditation and the Legal Profession"
DATE: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
TIME: 3:00 p.m. ET
LOCATION: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
WITNESSES:
- Michelle A. Behnke, President, American Bar Association
- Zack Smith, Senior Legal Fellow, Courts and the Constitution, Legal Policy Center, The Heritage Foundation
- David Blackman, Former Law Student, Penn State Dickinson Law
WATCH: This hearing is open to the public and will be livestreamed here.
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform published this content on July 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 20, 2026 at 13:25 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]