TO OUR MEMBERS:
The IADC dedicates itself to serving and benefiting our members, the legal profession, and the civil justice system by enhancing the development of skills, professionalism, diversity, and camaraderie in the practice of law. The organization's mission includes a commitment to ensuring equal opportunity in the legal profession and creating a pipeline of future leaders in the field that reflect the diversity of the communities and clients we serve.
While there have been many statements in support of diversity issued by legal organizations in the last month, the IADC leadership and the leadership of our Sister Defense Organizations felt it was important to come together to speak with One Voice on issues that impact all of us. To that end, we collaborated and reached agreement. We then circulated our Joint Statement to other members of the American Board of Advocates Roundtable, many of whom had issued their own statements. We were pleased that the newest member of the Roundtable, the Hispanic National Bar Association wanted to join their voice with ours. The HNBA is made up of more than 78,000 lawyers, and includes judges, law students, and legal professionals. We offer the following with One Voice for the right to hear many voices.
The foundation of a just legal system is built upon the principles of equal protection under the law, civil rights, and the rule of law itself. These bedrock values ensure that every individual— regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political or ideological persuasion or background—is afforded the full rights and opportunities promised in the Constitution. We are all created equal; we all have the promise of inalienable rights and liberties.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not merely corporate policies or social initiatives; they are essential expressions of justice and fairness, deeply embedded in our legal and moral traditions. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, Americans with Disabilities Act and decades of legal precedent affirm that combating discrimination and expanding opportunities for all is not just a moral imperative, but a legal necessity. It is a fundamental value that must remain assured.
Actions that seek to curtail DEI efforts in businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies threaten to undermine these fundamental protections for all. The principles of diversity and inclusion were never about exclusion or preferential treatment; rather, they are about ensuring that every person, regardless of their identity, has a fair and equitable chance to contribute, compete, and succeed.
Opposition to DEI initiatives is often framed as a defense of meritocracy. However, true meritocracy can only exist when historical barriers to opportunity are acknowledged and addressed. The rule of law does not permit discrimination in any form, whether overt or systemic. It mandates that our institutions actively protect against inequity, just as they do against other forms of injustice. We remain committed to inclusion as it strengthens our democracy and economy. Institutions that embrace diverse perspectives perform better, innovate more, and serve a broader range of communities. More importantly, an inclusive society ensures that no one is left behind—not because of artificial constraints, but because they are empowered to realize their full potential.
As professional associations committed to justice and advancing the rule of law and equal access to legal and equitable protections, we recognize that equality before the law is not a passive principle—it is an active pursuit. Any effort to dismantle diversity initiatives under the guise of neutrality is, in effect, a step backward in the ongoing fight for civil rights. The rule of law demands that our institutions uphold fairness for all, not just for the privileged or the powerful.
We urge our leaders, lawmakers, and business communities to remain steadfast in their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion because it advances the rule of law, is legally sound, and is morally and ethically right.