Bradley Bondi, brother of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, faced a significant defeat in the election for president of the D.C. Bar, securing only 3,490 votes against his opponent, Diane Seltzer, who garnered 34,982 votes.
Seltzer, an employment lawyer campaigning on a platform of support for Bar members during a period of “governmental chaos,” expressed gratitude to the members for clearly communicating their leadership preferences. “We’ve got to make sure that we hang on to the rule of law and that we can practice law safely,” she told NBC News. “That we can represent who we want without worrying about retaliation, and that judges can issue fair and impartial rulings without worrying about being intimidated or retaliated against.”
The election results emerged against the backdrop of increasing tensions during the Trump administration, particularly regarding its vocal critiques of judges and law firms challenging its policies. Recently, federal judges ruled against Trump’s executive orders targeting firms like Jenner & Block and Perkins Coie, deeming them unconstitutional.
Seltzer recognized that the D.C. Bar faces “heavy” challenges but emphasized her goal of fostering a sense of community among its members. “We have a bright, vibrant, engaged, energetic group,” she noted.
Bradley Bondi did not respond to requests for comment following his defeat, but he previously stated his commitment to resisting any attempts to politicize the Bar.
In another election, Alicia Long, a deputy to former interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, also lost her bid for the position of treasurer to Amanda Molina, securing 8,854 votes compared to Molina’s 26,380.
With over 89,000 members eligible to vote, the D.C. Bar experienced a turnout of 43%. Seltzer is set to assume office on July 1.
Bar associations wield significant influence in the legal field, impacting who is admitted to practice law and who faces disciplinary action. Given its geographical position, the D.C. Bar is critical as a licensing body for many federal attorneys.
The Trump administration has also turned its focus on the American Bar Association (ABA), notably withdrawing grants that supported lawyers and judges assisting survivors of domestic and sexual assault. The administration has ceased its collaboration with the ABA on vetting judicial nominees. In response, the ABA is suing the Justice Department over the revoked grants, asserting that there are “clear choices” confronting the legal profession and vowing to resist efforts that shift the profession towards favoring government-aligned individuals at the expense of dissenting voices.