President-Elect Candidates Bondi, Seltzer Face Off in Virtual Forum
May 07, 2025
On May 5 more than 140 people tuned in to the D.C. Bar’s virtual candidate forum for an opportunity to hear from president-elect candidates Brad Bondi and Diane Seltzer about their respective priorities if given the chance to lead the Bar.
In his opening statement, Bondi proposed a number of improvements to services offered to members. “My vision for the Bar is an association that works better and [is] more streamlined for all of us,” said Bondi, global co-chair of the investigations and white-collar defense practice at Paul Hastings, LLP. “Free, on-demand CLEs to ease the burden of multijurisdictional licenses; instant, no-cost certificates of good standing to cut through the red tape; a more accessible ethics hotline with clear guidance; and expanded pro bono opportunities to reflect our shared commitment to justice.”
Bondi characterized the election as “about the soul of our Bar,” vowing to preserve the organization’s apolitical and nonpartisan nature. “My opponent has politicized this race in a way that should trouble all of us,” Bondi said. He cited social media posts that he described as irresponsible fabrications and unfair accusations relating to his personal associations with the Trump administration.
In her opening statement, Seltzer focused on significant stakes in this year’s election. “Right now we are in a time of governmental chaos, and our members don’t feel safe to practice law,” said Seltzer, principal of the Seltzer Law Firm.
Seltzer said she intends to “make sure that we maintain and uphold the rule of law, and that people feel they can practice law safely without worrying about executive orders, or without being targeted in any possible way by the government.”
Seltzer described member relationships with the Bar as more than transactional. “We are a really high-functioning organization, and we have a lot to offer. I hope to lead you in those offerings,” she said.
Responding to a question about how the candidates would improve and expand access to justice, Seltzer said, “people need to feel that they can participate in activities without any kind of retaliation, without any kind of retribution.” She went on to discuss her support for the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, including appeals for funding on its behalf.
Bondi, in response to the same question, said that he intends to oversee the expansion of pro bono efforts, making it easier for lawyers and law firms to participate. Pro bono opportunities can also be expanded in areas where the need is greatest, Bondi said, including housing, immigration, and family law. Bondi also emphasized his interest in providing legal services to veterans. “Pro bono is extraordinarily important to me, and I want to make it the cornerstone of my presidency,” he said.
Seltzer described the challenge of expanding pro bono opportunities as twofold — “making sure that people know these opportunities exist so that they can actually volunteer, and making sure that our Pro Bono Center is adequately funded so we can continue to give the opportunities.”
A current member of the Bar’s Board of Governors, Seltzer also serves on the board of the Pro Bono Center. “We just need to make sure people are actually getting involved, getting engaged — and they are — but we can always increase it. We can always use more help and more money, and I’m happy to lead the efforts to get both,” she said.
Asked about what involvement with the Bar the candidates were most proud of, Bondi cited his past service on the steering committee of the D.C. Bar Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Community. “It was a chance to bring lawyers together, from Big Law to solo practice, to learn, to share, and to grow,” he said.
As a Board of Governors member over the past five years, Seltzer said she was proud of how they led the Bar out of COVID. “We functioned so well as a board during COVID because of the people with whom I am on the board and serve with.”
The candidates were also asked how they would preserve inclusivity in the Bar. Seltzer described the current Bar as diverse and welcoming to those from a variety of backgrounds. “We want to keep it that way,” she said.
Bondi described inclusivity as the way he has lived his life. He said that as president-elect he would appoint committee members who reflect the board’s diversity and create mentorship networks to foster connections across generations and perspectives. “My promise is a Bar where every lawyer feels they belong,” he said.
Both candidates said they do not intend to seek any significant rule or procedural changes during their presidency, if elected, and both generally supported the notion of allowing limited practice by paraprofessionals.
Seltzer’s closing statement cited her commitment to advancing the Bar. “We want to see everyone take advantage of what we offer. We want to see members engaged, and we want to continue to have leadership made up of people who really prioritize and care about the Bar and how it functions,” she said.
Bondi concluded, “The options in this election are clear, and the leadership styles couldn't be more different. I'm running to keep the Bar focused on service, on helping every lawyer, from Big Law to solo practitioner, do their work more effectively, no matter their beliefs.”
The 2025 D.C. Bar general and Communities elections are live and open until June 4. Voting is exclusively online.
