By Civitas
Special to the AFRO
In a time when the rule of law is being tested in America, one of the most consequential elections of 2025 is happening right now—and almost no one is watching.
The race for President-Elect of the District of Columbia Bar Association, quietly taking place from April 15 through June 4, has the potential to shape the ethical direction of the legal profession in the nation’s capital—and, by extension, the country.
This isn’t about party politics. It’s about whether our legal institutions can remain independent in an era of rising authoritarian pressure. And who leads the D.C. Bar– in this moment – matters.
What Is the D.C. Bar—and why does it matter?
The District of Columbia Bar is one of the largest unified bar associations in the world, with more than 110,000 members globally. It is a mandatory bar—any attorney practicing law in D.C. must be a member.
The Bar’s responsibilities include:
- Licensing and regulating attorneys
- Enforcing ethical rules
- Managing disciplinary actions
- Supporting legal aid and public interest law
- Appointing members to the Board on Professional Responsibility, which reviews attorney discipline cases
The President-Elect serves a three-year term (as President-Elect, then President, then Immediate Past President) and sits on the Bar’s Board of Governors. This board helps guide everything from budgeting and legal education to, critically, appointments to the disciplinary oversight board.
Though the D.C. Court of Appeals has final say on attorney discipline, the Bar’s leadership plays a key role in shaping the process—and public trust in that process.
Brad Bondi: Qualifications, ties, and concerns
One of the candidates for D.C. Bar President-Elect is Brad Bondi, a corporate defense attorney and former SEC counsel under the Bush administration. He’s respected in financial law circles and has represented major Wall Street institutions.
But he’s also the brother of Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General and a central figure in Donald Trump’s legal and political strategy. She played a visible role in defending Trump during his first impeachment and helped frame public narratives around the 2020 election aftermath.
To date, Brad Bondi has not publicly endorsed or aligned himself with any political administration, and he has not run on a partisan platform. But his familial and professional proximity to a hyper-politicized legal movement is difficult to ignore—especially now.
This is not about guilt by association. It’s about the appearance of conflict in a moment when the legal system is under siege.
Executive orders, targeted firms, and the growing threat
In 2024, former President Trump signed an executive order banning the federal government from contracting with law firms deemed “hostile to law enforcement.” In practice, this order targeted firms that represented victims of police brutality or challenged governmental misconduct.
Senior federal judge Reggie Walton—a Republican appointee—called the order “shocking,” warning that it could chill legal advocacy and undermine the constitutional right to counsel.
This is not theoretical. It is real, current and dangerous.
If the D.C. Bar, which licenses and disciplines attorneys practicing at the highest levels of federal power, appears even remotely beholden to political forces, it will deter courageous legal representation. It will embolden those who seek to silence dissent and punish lawyers who take principled stands.
Whether or not Brad Bondi would ever act unethically is not the point. The point is that the stakes are too high to take unnecessary risks. In a fragile democracy, perception shapes reality—and justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done impartially.
Meet Diane Seltzer: A different vision
Bondi’s opponent, Diane Seltzer, is a seasoned employment attorney with decades of experience on the D.C. Bar’s Board of Governors. She has led numerous ethics and professionalism committees and served on the Bar’s Pro Bono Center Board.
Her platform prioritizes:
- Protecting the Bar from political influence
- Supporting solo and small firm attorneys
- Expanding access to justice
- Defending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives
- Maintaining ethical transparency in the profession
Seltzer is seen by many in the legal community as a steady, principled leader. Her experience in both employment law and institutional governance gives her a strong foundation for safeguarding the Bar’s integrity at a time of rising pressure.
This isn’t an endorsement—It’s a wake-up call
Let’s be absolutely clear: this article does not endorse either candidate. It raises concerns rooted in precedent, political history and the urgency of the moment.
Brad Bondi may be deeply qualified. Diane Seltzer may be the experienced steward the Bar needs. What matters is that the legal community understand what’s at stake—and that it votes accordingly.
What you can do: Call a lawyer, change the future
If you are a member of the D.C. Bar, your vote matters. You should have received an email with a secure link to vote. Ballots must be cast by June 4, 2025.
If you’re not a member, you can still make a difference:
Call or message every D.C.-barred attorney you know.
Ask: Have you voted? Do you know what’s at stake?
Encourage them to read each candidate’s statement, ask hard questions and vote with care.
Legal institutions must remain a bulwark against political interference, not a gateway for it.
In a time when justice is under pressure, we need guardians of law who are unimpeachable in both action and appearance. The presidency of the D.C. Bar may seem like a niche election—but in this climate, it’s a frontline defense of the republic.
Let’s treat it that way.
For more information on the upcoming election and how the D.C. Bar works, please see below.
General Background on the D.C. Bar and Its Functions
- District of Columbia Bar Overview
- Role of the President-Elect and Board of Governors
- Board on Professional Responsibility
D.C. Bar Board on Professional Responsibility
2025 D.C. Bar Election Candidates
- Brad Bondi’s Candidate Profile
D.C. Bar Newsroom – Meet the Candidate: Brad Bondi
- Diane Seltzer’s Candidate Profile
Seltzer Law Firm – Announcement of Candidacy
- Diane Seltzer’s Biography
Seltzer Law Firm – Who We Are
Bar Election Timeline
- D.C. Bar Election Timeline and Procedures