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Stetson Law alumni urge alma mater to denounce AG Bondi
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Stetson Law alumni urge alma mater to denounce AG Bondi

By February 25, 2026March 9th, 2026No Comments

350+ Stetson Law alumni urge alma mater to denounce Attorney General Pam Bondi’s conduct

Alumni coalition of former judges, managing partners, public officials, and civic leaders rejects Stetson’s claim of “institutional neutrality,” citing Florida Bar Oath, legal ethics, potential congressional impeachment

GULFPORT, FL (February 25, 2026) — A coalition of 384 Stetson University College of Law alumni, including former Florida judges and prominent legal establishment figures, has mailed an open letter urging the College of Law to publicly denounce conduct by Attorney General Pam Bondi that alumni argue is inconsistent with the ethical standards of the legal profession.

The letter, organized in less than a week by Stetson Law alumnus Johnny Bardine (Class of 2006), calls on the school to reaffirm its commitment to the ethical standards central to Stetson’s identity, arguing that the Attorney General’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation materials violates fundamental oaths.

The signatories represent a cross-section of Florida’s legal and civic leadership, including:

  • Judiciary: Retired Florida 6th Circuit Court Judge Hon. Lynn Tepper, retired Miami-Dade County Court Judge Hon. Joseph I. Davis, retired Pasco County Court Judge Hon. William G. Sestak
  • Political & Civic Leaders: Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Hon. Patricia Kemp and former General Counsel (FL Department of Citrus) and congressional candidate Kristen Carlson
  • Law Firm Leadership: Many managing partners and founders from major Florida litigation firms, including Searcy Denney and Ullman Bursa Law

In response to growing pressure, Stetson Law recently told news media it would rely on “institutional neutrality on political matters” regarding Bondi’s actions. The alumni coalition firmly rejects this framing.

“This isn’t about politics,” said Bardine. “It’s about asking our alma mater to uphold the ethical and professional standards it instilled in us – standards we all swore to uphold, including the Attorney General of the United States.”

Retired Florida 6th Circuit Court Judge Hon. Lynn Tepper added, “If she were questioning a witness who answered in the unresponsive manner she did to Congress, she would have demanded the judge hold them in contempt. Yet, when she is the witness, ethical and legal standards are abandoned.”

The letter requests that Stetson University College of Law:

  1. Issue a public statement reaffirming its commitment to ethical legal practice, transparency, and the rule of law;
  2. Express formal disapproval of actions by Attorney General Pam Bondi that appear inconsistent with those commitments; and
  3. Support appropriate accountability mechanisms, including congressional oversight that may include impeachment proceedings if warranted under law.

The open letter was delivered yesterday to Dean D. Benjamin Barros and the Board of Trustees of Stetson University via email and U.S. Certified Mail, with a courtesy copy sent to the Attorney General at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Bardine has also formally requested a meeting with Dean Barros to discuss the alumni’s concerns and the university’s obligations to its ethical legacy.

This is a developing story. 

Media coverage includes:

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