American Bar Association Releases Final Report of the ABA Task Force for American Democracy

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CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 10, 2025--

The American Bar Association today announced the release of the final report of the ABA Task Force for American Democracy, a two-year, bipartisan effort to address the most pressing threats to the rule of law and democratic institutions in the United States.

Co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson and retired federal appellate Judge J. Michael Luttig, the task force assembled distinguished leaders from across the legal, business, academic and civic sectors. The report calls for immediate and sustained action to bolster public confidence in American democracy, including major reforms to elections, civics education and the role of lawyers in defending constitutional governance.

“This signature report underscores the ABA’s longstanding tradition of supporting efforts to protect and strengthen the rule of law across the country and around the world,” said ABA President Michelle A. Behnke. “Through initiatives such as the Task Force for American Democracy and our newly created Center for Civic Engagement, Education and the Rule of Law, the ABA remains on the leading edge during this critical moment for America.”

The Center for Civic Engagement, Education and the Rule of Law, established this year, is dedicated to enhancing the ABA’s capacity to lead, innovate and collaborate in promoting civic engagement, public education and the safeguarding of fundamental principles of the rule of law in America. It brings together long-established ABA committee and initiatives as part of ongoing efforts to harmonize and elevate the ABA’s work in these important areas.

“The rule of law is the bedrock of our democracy. At this critical moment in our nation’s history, lawyers have a unique responsibility to uphold it,” said Mary L. Smith, past president of the ABA, who established the task force during her tenure. “With over 1.3 million lawyers in the United States, we must be on the frontlines of protecting our Constitution and ensuring free and fair elections.”

Drawing on two years of hearings, listening tours and research, the report advances reforms in 12 core areas, including:

• Civics Education: Substantially increase federal and state investment in K–12 civics, adopt enhanced instructional requirements and support the bipartisan Civics Secures Democracy Act to create “a more informed and engaged electorate.”
• Redistricting: Establish independent, citizen-led redistricting commissions to eliminate partisan gerrymandering and ensure voters choose their representatives.
• Election Processes: Encourage states to adopt open primaries, ranked-choice voting and/or fusion voting to reduce polarization and improve accountability.
• Election Administration: Depoliticize the selection of election officials and establish professional standards and codes of responsibility.
• Election Worker Safety: Provide federal funding and stronger state protections to ensure the safety of election workers and deter threats and interference.
• Voting Access: Expand automatic and same-day registration, standardize early and mail voting procedures and support the Election Day Holiday Act to increase participation.
• Election Security: Mandate hand-marked paper ballots or paper audit trails and require robust post-election audits to safeguard integrity.
• Combatting Disinformation: Support laws like the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act to address political deepfakes and require disclosure of AI-generated content.
• Role of Lawyers: Affirm lawyers’ obligations to the rule of law, expand CLE programs and create accessible, credible election law resources.
• Frivolous Litigation: Require three-judge panels and expedited appeals for election challenges.
• Law School Training: Implement curricula that prepare future lawyers to uphold democracy and the rule of law, as pledged by over 120 law school deans.
• Civil Discourse: Promote initiatives like “Disagree Better” to model respectful debate and reduce polarization.

The task force’s work included a national listening tour in key states, partnerships with secretaries of state, law schools and bar associations and mass mobilization efforts such as the reaffirmation of lawyers’ oaths on Law Day, May 1, 2025.

“This report was a two-year project issued by a bipartisan group of distinguished Americans. It is meant to tackle the fundamental question, “How did we get here?” said Johnson, task force co-chair. “Our hope is that our recommendations will be relevant today, tomorrow, next year and beyond.”

“America’s democracy and rule of law are under attack for the first time in our history. These cornerstones of our republic will endure only if we choose to defend them, and the legal profession must answer our country’s call to lead in that defense,” said Luttig, task force co-chair. "America’s lawyers must position themselves on the front lines of this war and fight to preserve, protect and defend our sacred Constitution and rule of law. This is the defining professional moment of our lives and of our times.”

The report is dedicated to the late R. William Ide III, former ABA president and task force vice chair, whose vision and leadership were instrumental in its creation.

The full report is available here.

The ABA is one of the largest voluntary associations of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View ourprivacy statementonline. Follow the latest ABA news atwww.americanbar.org/news.

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CONTACT: Matt Cimento

Phone:202-662-1092

Email: [email protected]

Online: https://www.americanbar.org

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA ILLINOIS

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ELECTIONS/CAMPAIGNS WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEGAL PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT

SOURCE: American Bar Association

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