1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The Trump administration just made it harder to know if federal judges are actually qualified. For decades, the American Bar Association (ABA) has helped vet judicial nominees by reviewing private bar records and interviewing colleagues. Based on that, they give each nominee a public rating, like “well qualified” or “not qualified.” Both parties have used this process for years to make sure nominees are fit for a lifetime seat on the bench. But now, Attorney General Pamela Bondi says the Department of Justice will block the ABA from accessing that information. She called the group “activist” and said it won’t get special treatment anymore. Translation: they don’t want independent experts reviewing Trump’s picks. And that should worry everyone. When you silence independent oversight, it’s usually because you have something to hide. Please draft legislation that requires the ABA review.