Who Sets the Bar?: The Aftermath of ABA-Accreditation Removal in Texas
In 2026, the Texas Supreme Court disrupted decades of legal tradition by eliminating the requirement that bar applicants graduate from an American Bar Association–accredited law school, reigniting a national debate over who controls entry into the legal profession. Supporters frame the move as a constitutional reassertion of state authority and a challenge to the ABA’s perceived ideological drift, while critics warn it could fracture national standards and undermine the portability of law degrees. As other states consider similar action, the decision raises fundamental questions about quality, access, and political influence in one of America’s most powerful professions.