Court order brings ABA consent decree to conclusion

On June 26, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia entered an order bringing to a conclusion the ABA's 10-year Consent Decree with the Department of Justice regarding law school accreditation. The ABA has been negotiating with the Justice Department's Antitrust Division with respect to issues identified during the Department's several-months-long investigation of ABA compliance with the Consent Decree. The ABA and the Justice Department reached a settlement, and jointly proposed the order that was entered.

In a statement issued on June 27, ABA President Michael S. Greco said:

The American Bar Association and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached agreement resolving an inquiry regarding the ABA's ongoing compliance with the agreed-upon June 26, 1996, final judgment in the United States v. American Bar Association.

Contrary to the impression resulting from a press release issued last week by the Department of Justice, the stipulation executed by the parties and the order entered by the court make clear that there was no finding of civil contempt.

The ABA remains committed to assuring the highest quality education for lawyers because this benefits both the public and our profession. The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar will promote this commitment by continuing to administer the law school accreditation process in full compliance with antitrust law, and by the ABA's services to law schools and to the bar admissions process.

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