Submit Comment by April 6 on DOJ Proposal to Stop State Bar Ethics Investigations of DOJ Attorneys
Submit a Public Comment Directly at https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOJ-OAG-2026-0001-0001
Talking Points
(Note: below are talking points you can use to craft your own statement. Public comment works best when every comment is unique, well-researched and personally relevant.)
I am a concerned citizen who cares deeply about preserving the rule of law and upholding the integrity of our justice system.
I strongly oppose this new rule because it will diminish accountability for misconduct by government lawyers.
I believe that lawyers representing the United States should be held to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. They must be subject to oversight by independent authorities like state bar associations; the Justice Department cannot be trusted to police itself.
This proposed rule would allow the Attorney General to interfere with independent state bar investigations. That will greatly harm the integrity of our justice system and allow misconduct to go unpunished.
How to Submit a Public Comment
Click on this link, which takes you to a description of the change.
Click on the [COMMENT] button.
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You may submit any relevant comments and you may submit them anonymously. What and how much you write in your comments is up to you. Short is sweet ("I oppose this rule change.") but long can be cathartic. Note that the number of people who oppose the change are what counts in influencing Congress to resist, not the length or eloquence of their comments. However, the administration will ignore irrelevant comments and will bundle identical, “boilerplate" comments, so, again, it’s best if you submit comments in your own voice.
For a deeper dive, Protect Democracy provides more guidance on how to comment on proposed federal regulations.
Background
In another Orwellian twist to the weaponization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) against all the institutions of democracy, Attorney General Pam Bondi is now proposing a new rule aimed at “ending the weaponization of state bar associations’ complaint and investigations process” when directed toward the alleged unethical conduct of DOJ attorneys. This follows the lodging of ethics complaints against several top DOJ attorneys including AG Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, as Democracy Docket notes. Simply put, DOJ’s proposed rule would indefinitely stop state bar associations from investigating misconduct by its lawyers while DOJ conducts its own internal investigation. DOJ could effectively shut down state investigations by withholding documentary evidence and witnesses. Repercussions could extend beyond state bar associations to state courts’ ability to enforce legal ethics standards, as The Hill notes.
We can work to stop this rule by submitting comments stating our objections by April 6. To make your voice heard, go to the comment portal here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOJ-OAG-2026-0001-0001 and click the “comment” box.