{"id":483,"date":"2026-08-03T16:32:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T16:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/?p=483"},"modified":"2026-08-03T16:32:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T16:32:48","slug":"ftc-endorses-ohio-supreme-court-proposal-to-weaken-abas-law-school-accreditation-monopoly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/?p=483","title":{"rendered":"FTC Endorses Ohio Supreme Court Proposal to Weaken ABA\u2019s Law School Accreditation Monopoly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <a id=\"main-content\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"content\">\n<div class=\"primary-layout-columns\">\n<div class=\"usa-layout-docs__main\">\n<div class=\"region region-content\">\n<div id=\"block-block-content-b5025772-a547-4f8f-a251-ec580178b320\" class=\"block block-block-content block-block-contentb5025772-a547-4f8f-a251-ec580178b320 block--block-content--basic\">\n<div class=\"block-content block-content--type-basic block-content--983 block-content--view-mode-full\">\n<div class=\"block-content__content\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"block-system-main-block--3\" class=\"block block-system block-system-main-block\">\n<div class=\"block-content-container\">\n<article class=\"node node--type-press-release node--view-mode-full node--334496\">\n<div class=\"node__content\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-tags-view field--type-viewfield field--label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__item field__item-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"view view-tags__block view-tags view-id-tags view-display-id-block js-view-dom-id-eb5926fa7c12d165f23fd032881edd9ca55043edecb37284a5bfd983741f142c view--block\">\n<div class=\"view__content\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"item-list\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"views-field views-field-name\"><span class=\"field-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/competition\">Competition<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"views-field views-field-name\"><span class=\"field-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/office-policy-planning\">Office of Policy Planning<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"views-field views-field-name\"><span class=\"field-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/bureau-competition\">Bureau of Competition<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<p>The Federal Trade Commission lauded an Ohio Supreme Court proposal to lower the cost of legal representation by ending the American Bar Association\u2019s explicit control over whether an Ohio bar applicant\u2019s legal education is sufficient for practicing law in the state, undermining its monopoly.<\/p>\n<p>Responding to the court\u2019s invitation to comment, the directors of the Office of Policy Planning and Bureau of Competition\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/legal-library\/browse\/advocacy-filings\/amendments-supreme-court-rules-government-bar-ohio\">sent a letter<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>to the court<\/a> on Friday highlighting the competitive risks of continuing to grant the largest trade association of practicing attorneys the power to set policies that limit entrance into the profession.<\/p>\n<p>Restricting the supply of lawyers might increase compensation for ABA members, but it does so by imposing significant burdens on Ohioans seeking legal representation, the letter states.<\/p>\n<p>The ABA\u2019s accreditation group is also dominated by law school faculty and administrators with strong incentives to thwart lower cost alternatives for legal education. The letter notes the Department of Justice Antitrust Division recognized these issues in 1995, filing a civil lawsuit alleging the ABA \u201callowed its law school accreditation process to be captured by those with a direct interest in its outcome\u201d and that the organization \u201cat times acted as a guild\u201d advancing the interests of its members.<\/p>\n<p>Drawing on decades of enforcement, advocacy experience and commentary from legal scholars in the areas of accreditation and occupational licensing, the letter argues in favor of opening law school accreditation to potential new competitors.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, the Florida and Texas Supreme Courts amended their rules so that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/03\/ftc-endorses-florida-supreme-court-action-eliminating-abas-bar-admission-monopoly\" data-entity-type=\"node\" data-entity-uuid=\"410b1e29-2bb3-4e38-9c4b-6f37a5bb33ed\" data-entity-substitution=\"canonical\">ABA would no longer have the \u201cfinal say\u201d as the \u201csole gatekeeper\u201d of educational requirements for lawyers<\/a>. The Tennessee Supreme Court is also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/05\/ftc-urges-tennessee-supreme-court-oppose-abas-law-school-accreditation-monopoly\" data-entity-type=\"node\" data-entity-uuid=\"10637558-9a04-44c0-81b8-7d8b219c1744\" data-entity-substitution=\"canonical\">considering reducing its reliance on ABA accreditation<\/a>. Commission staff have strongly endorsed these reforms while also encouraging other states to follow.<\/p>\n<p>At the urging of President Donald Trump, the Department of Education is supporting the entry of new accrediting bodies in higher education and removing \u201cunnecessary requirements and barriers to institutional innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Commission vote authorizing the issuance of the staff letter was 2-0.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-boilerplate-block field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--count-1\">\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"block-content block-content--type-boilerplate block-content--5 block-content--view-mode-default\">\n<div class=\"block-content__content\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<p>The Federal Trade Commission works to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/about-ftc\/bureaus-offices\/bureau-competition\">promote competition<\/a> and to protect and educate consumers.\u00a0The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. You can learn more about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/system\/files\/attachments\/competition-counts\/pdf-0116_competition-counts.pdf\">how competition benefits consumers<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/faq\/competition\/report-antitrust-violation\">file an antitrust complaint<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/enforcement\/merger-review\/comment-on-a-proposed-merger\">comment on a proposed merger<\/a>.\u00a0For the latest news and resources,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/social-media\">follow the FTC on social media<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/stay-connected\">subscribe to press releases<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/blogs\/competition-matters\">read our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-blockftc-press-release-block-8\" id=\"block-views-block-ftc-press-release-block-8--3\">\n<div class=\"block-content-container\">\n<div class=\"view view-ftc-press-release__block_8 view-ftc-press-release view-id-ftc_press_release view-display-id-block_8 js-view-dom-id-2d02ee866373f72def0a218c897abe54596dc9550d501307772e6b3d68161a58 view--block\">\n<div class=\"view__content\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/05\/ftc-urges-tennessee-supreme-court-oppose-abas-law-school-accreditation-monopoly\">FTC Urges Tennessee Supreme Court to  Oppose the ABA\u2019s Law School Accreditation Monopoly<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"views-row\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/03\/ftc-endorses-florida-supreme-court-action-eliminating-abas-bar-admission-monopoly\">FTC Endorses Florida Supreme Court Action  Eliminating the ABA\u2019s Bar Admission Monopoly<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-blockftc-press-release-block-7\" id=\"block-views-block-ftc-press-release-block-7--3\">\n<div class=\"block-content-container\">\n<div class=\"view view-ftc-press-release__block_7 view-ftc-press-release view-id-ftc_press_release view-display-id-block_7 js-view-dom-id-29418edb661e2ec3593fa977856b6df7e7e7994ebae27e97d2d1b60db1844788 view--block\">\n<div class=\"view__content\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<h3 class=\"views-label views-label-field-media-contacts\">Media Contact<\/h3>\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--media-contact paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"paragraph__content\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-media-contact-single field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--count-1\">\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<article class=\"node node--type-biography node--view-mode-contact-information node--102\">\n<div class=\"node__content\">\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/07\/mailto:opa@ftc.gov\"><br \/>\n<span>Office of Public Affairs<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-division field--type-string field--label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\">Office of Public Affairs<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-phone field--type-telephone field--label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\">202-326-2180<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/07\/ftc-endorses-ohio-supreme-court-proposal-weaken-abas-law-school-accreditation-monopoly\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Press Release Feed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/07\/ftc-endorses-ohio-supreme-court-proposal-weaken-abas-law-school-accreditation-monopoly\">Press Release Feed<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Federal Trade Commission lauded an Ohio Supreme Court proposal to lower the cost of legal representation by ending the American Bar Association\u2019s explicit control over whether an Ohio bar applicant\u2019s legal education is sufficient for practicing law in the state, undermining its monopoly.View Press Release<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":258,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-civil-service-independent-agencies-federal-trade-commission"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=483"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":690,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483\/revisions\/690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}