In March 2025, Florida's high court considered eliminating the requirement that law students graduate from ABA‐accredited schools due to the ABA's diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates. Critics argue that these DEI practices, embraced by the ABA, are at odds with a conservative state policy aiming to restrict diversity initiatives. The event highlights the ongoing political and ethical debate over DEI policies in the legal profession.

An OpenSecrets profile of the American Bar Association reveals that in the 2024 cycle, the association recorded $26,522 in political contributions and $940,000 in lobbying expenditures. The report also highlights that 4 out of every 10 ABA lobbyists have prior government experience, indicating a significant revolving door phenomenon that raises concerns about transparency and undue influence in policy-making.

The American Bar Association’s Task Force for American Democracy officially launched on August 2, 2024, calling on lawyers across the nation to defend constitutional democracy and the rule of law against rising authoritarianism. The initiative, detailed in the task force’s opening report, emphasizes active legal engagement, community outreach, and holding accountable those undermining democratic processes.

The American Bar Association successfully lobbied for key legislative reforms, including stronger antitrust regulation, sentencing reform to reduce mandatory minimums, and increased legal aid funding. These victories support marginalized communities and reinforce democratic accountability in policy-making.

The ABA Governmental Affairs Office advanced multiple progressive policy initiatives during the tumultuous session of the 118th Congress, including reforms in criminal justice, immigration procedures, and regulatory changes, through effective lobbying and executive engagement.

The ABA’s House of Delegates passed a resolution urging Congress to require timely disclosure of all political expenditures, aiming to eliminate secret spending in elections. This move is intended to promote democratic accountability by ensuring that donors and spending sources are transparent, countering efforts by powerful groups to obscure their influence over the political process.

The ABA, through its Center for Human Rights, has been actively providing legal expertise and support to labor and human rights defenders worldwide. Its initiatives—including the Justice Defenders Program, trial monitoring, and pro bono networks—counter repressive state practices and support union and worker rights, thereby bolstering democratic participation and freedom of association.