Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(164,684 posts)
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 12:31 PM Monday

DC Bar Overwhelmingly Chooses Veteran Member Over Bondi

Source: Bloomberg Law

DC attorneys rejected Brad Bondi’s bid to lead the local bar association and instead chose board member Diane Seltzer.

Seltzer received more than 34,000 votes compared to 3,400 for Bondi, the DC Bar said at a Monday press briefing. More than 38,000 voters were cast.

Bondi, a securities lawyer at Paul Hastings whose sister is Attorney General Pam Bondi, drove record turnout as attorneys worried he would interfere with disciplinary proceedings to benefit President Donald Trump. He called such claims “politicized cheap shots.”

Seltzer, an employment lawyer, has been volunteering for the DC Bar for more than two decades and spent the past five years on the board. She faulted Bondi’s lack of leadership experience at the organization.

The contentious race for the three-year term was unusual for the professional association of the 120,000 lawyers licensed to practice in Washington.

Read more: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/dc-bar-overwhelmingly-chooses-veteran-member-over-bondi




20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

LetMyPeopleVote

(164,684 posts)
1. Bondi lost by 80%
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 12:31 PM
Monday

Just in from DC Bar - labor attorney Diane Seltzer defeats securities attorney Brad Bondi in a closely watched race with record turnout.

Carrie Johnson (@carriejohnson.bsky.social) 2025-06-09T16:10:42.057Z

calimary

(86,636 posts)
13. VERY satisfying!
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 02:39 PM
Monday

At least one more Bondi is kept out of a power position. Wish we could have two…

intheflow

(29,580 posts)
4. I was just wondering about this!
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 12:52 PM
Monday

Thought to look it up at home later, and then here this post pops up! Thanks, and I'm so glad he not only lost but got trounced.

ShazzieB

(20,883 posts)
16. I wouldn't read too much into the participation stats.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 03:44 PM
Monday

This was an election for the president of a professional association, which a lot of people don't get all that excited about, in my experience. Maybe it's different in some fields, but in the field I was in, those races were never hotly contested, and I don't remember ever being deeply concerned about the outcome.

Another way to look at this is that there's evidently not a large, devoted MAGA contigent on the DC bar, which can only be a good thing!

bluedigger

(17,245 posts)
17. Plumbers, electricians, and accountants, I wouldn't care, either.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 03:58 PM
Monday

This particular occupation, and this particular locale, I have higher expectations. Still, I take your point - I'm sure many of those members are there only to pad their credentials and keep their fees exorbitant. Not the first time the legal profession has failed to impress me.

onenote

(45,328 posts)
20. How does being a bar member keep fees exorbitant?
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 10:59 AM
Tuesday

Membership in the DC bar is required to practice law in the District of Columbia (as defined in Rule 49 of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Rules), you must be enrolled as an active member of the District of Columbia Bar. See Rule II, Section 4 and Bylaw Article III, Section 3.02.

I’ve been a dues paying (currently $348 a year) for nearly 50 years. Never once occurred to me that it was allowing me to charge exorbitant rates for my services.

markbark

(1,607 posts)
10. More "rules for thee but none for me"
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 02:14 PM
Monday

"“I am disgusted by how rabid partisans lurched this election into the political gutter, turning a professional campaign into baseless attacks, identity politics, and partisan recrimination,” Bondi said in a statement on Monday. “Never before has a DC Bar election been leveraged along partisan lines in this way, an explicit call for members to vote based not on what’s best for the institution but according to their political affiliations.”"

Translation: Partizan hack upset at loss blames partizan hackery

Escurumbele

(3,821 posts)
11. Actually, they DID vote for what it is best for the institution, that is why you lost.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 02:27 PM
Monday

How difficult is it to figure that out? Plain and clear, YOU WERE NOT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE INSTITUTION, that is the real reason you lost, the person who won IS THE BEST FOR THE INSTITUTION.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»DC Bar Overwhelmingly Cho...