- The state’s high court banned diversity mandates for continuing legal education courses
- Such mandates are one way legal groups are trying to make the profession more inclusive
Dec 17 (Reuters) – The Supreme Court of Florida on Thursday ruled that lawyers in the state can’t earn mandatory training credits for attending legal education programs offered by groups that require diversity among speakers.
The ABA reports
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday reaffirmed a decision that bans Florida lawyers from receiving continuing legal education credit for programs that require diversity among panelists—including the ABA’s CLE programs.
The state supreme court said the ABA’s diversity policy imposes “quotas” on CLE panels that “smacks of stereotyping or naked balancing.”
“We reject the notion that quotas like these cause no harm,” the Florida Supreme Court said in the Dec. 16 decision. “Quotas depart from the American ideal of treating people as unique individuals, rather than as members of groups. Quotas are based on and foster stereotypes. And quotas are divisive.”
The Florida Supreme Court first imposed the ban April 15, after the Florida Bar’s Business Law Section adopted a speaker panel policy that was modeled on the ABA policy. The court reaffirmed the April order after hearing more than 40 comments, most of which opposed the ban on CLE credit.
The ABA told the state supreme court in July that its Diversity & Inclusion CLE Policy is one of inclusion, not exclusion, and was designed to help engage diverse lawyers who historically may not have had opportunities to participate on CLE panels.
The ABA policy said the association expects all its sponsored or co-sponsored CLE programs to include members of diverse groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.
The ABA policy said CLE programs with three or more panelists, including the moderator, must have at least one member from a diverse group. Programs with five to eight panelists must have at least two diverse members, and programs with nine or more panelists must have at least three diverse members.
The ABA had noted in its comments that there are no “set asides” or reserved seats for certain categories of people. The ABA also has the power to grant waivers in rare instances when diverse panelists are not available.
The policy, implemented in March 2017, references the ABA’s Goal III to eliminate bias and enhance diversity in the profession.
In a statement following the decision, ABA President Reginald Turner said the ABA appreciates the Florida Supreme Court’s consideration of its comments.
