Blumenthal Applauds ABA Action to Recommend Update to Legal History Disclosure Requirements for Survivors of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the below statement today on the American Bar Association’s (ABA) decision to provide updated guidance for state bars to make disclosure requirements optional for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault:

“I am glad that the ABA has heeded my call—and the call of so many advocates—to recommend revisions to legal disclosure requirements in state bar admission processes that may create additional stress at a critical transition period in survivors’ professional lives. This decision should encourage state bar committees to eliminate overly broad, burdensome questions that necessitate survivors reengaging with profoundly painful, traumatic experiences, which in some cases, has reportedly even caused delays in survivors’ bar admission. Today’s action is an important step forward in promoting fairness and inclusion within the legal profession.”

In many states, admission to the bar requires aspiring lawyers to provide information about any legal or administrative proceedings in which they have been a party, which in some cases, may require survivors to disclose information about campus sexual misconduct complaints or protection orders related to their experiences of domestic violence or sexual assault.

In April, Blumenthal led U.S Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) in calling on the ABA to study the prevalence of legal history disclosure requirements and their impact on survivors. Last week, the ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence published a report with its findings that disclosure requirements result in unnecessary harm for survivors, recommending that ABA update its legal disclosure policies for state bars.

The full text of Senator Blumenthal’s April letter urging the ABA to study legal history disclosure requirements is available here. 

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