Aspiring lawyers may soon have more paths to a legal career.

In a 5-1 decision, the Florida Supreme Court amended its rule making the American Bar Association (ABA) “the sole accrediting agency for law schools whose graduates are eligible to sit for this state’s General Bar Examination.”

The revision will “expand the accrediting agencies by which a law school may be approved or provisionally approved” to allow law school graduates to take the Bar.

The opinion, which follows the lead of Texas, was issued after Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier called for alternative accreditors, with the former taking issue with the ABA’s “progressive agenda” and the latter criticizing the organization as “woke” and accusing it of discriminating against Catholics.

“Mission accomplished,” exulted Jason Weida, Chief of Staff for the Governor.

The high court started a workgroup last year to explore alternatives to the ABA given its perceived political stances and “accreditation standards on racial and ethnic diversity in law schools,” with an eye toward trying to “reduce Florida’s near-exclusive reliance on the ABA while promoting greater flexibility and innovation in legal education.”

That study provided the framework for the rule revision.

“Based on its independent study and its consideration of the workgroup’s report, the Court is persuaded that it is not in Floridians’ best interest for the ABA to be the sole gatekeeper deciding which law schools’ graduates are eligible to sit for the state’s General Bar Examination and become licensed attorneys in Florida,” reads the opinion, which was led by Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz, with Justices John Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso concurring.

“Instead, the rule changes create the opportunity for additional entities to carry out an accrediting and gatekeeping function on behalf of the Court.”

The revised rule opens the door “to a programmatic accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit programs in legal education that lead to the first professional degree in law or an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit institutions of higher education, provided the institutional accrediting agency is also approved by the Court.”

In a dissent, Justice Jorge Labarga worried about “detrimental” consequences for “replacing an established entity with an unknown alternative.”

Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin’s Office has approved a recall petition against Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, launching a 120-day signature-gathering window that could trigger her removal.

Levine Cava now faces a determined opposition effort as organizers race to collect nearly 66,000 signatures, representing 4% of the county’s more than 1.64 million registered voters, by the May 14 deadline.

Levine Cava, first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024 with 58% of the vote, responded to the Clerk’s approval by calling the campaign “frivolous and politically-motivated,” but stressed it won’t change her focus at County Hall.

“Miami-Dade residents from every corner of our community have overwhelmingly entrusted me as their Mayor to lead and deliver results, and that’s exactly what I will continue to do,” she said in a statement.

“This political sideshow will not distract from the work we’re focused on every day: creating a future-ready Miami-Dade that is safer, more affordable, and more resilient. Our residents expect a Mayor who shows up, works hard, and delivers. That is where my full attention remains.”

The current push has been promoted by critics including Alex Otaola, a former mayoral candidate and conservative media personality, and organizers like Mercy Perez, who told NBC 6 last month that the county’s basic services are faltering.

“The potholes, every day they get bigger,” Perez told the outlet, complaining also of issues with flooding, breakdowns at Miami International Airport and poor conditions at the county’s animal shelters.

The recall effort has already hit procedural turbulence. In early December, elections officials said the Clerk could not accept a recall petition because the county needed to clarify responsibilities tied to the now-elected Supervisor of Elections — an issue the County Commission later addressed by approving a resolution aimed at clearing the path.

Fernandez-Barquin’s approval of the petition Thursday came after Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia certified the size of the voter rolls.

If organizers reach the signature threshold, the county would move toward a rare, stand-alone recall vote asking whether Levine Cava should remain Mayor.

Miami-Dade last held a successful mayoral recall in 2011, when voters removed then-Mayor Carlos Alvarez amid controversy over public financing tied to the Marlins ballpark.

Alvarez is a Republican, as are Fernandez-Barquin and Garcia — both former state Representatives — and Otaola, who placed third in the 2024 mayoral race with 12% of the vote.

Levine Cava is a Democrat, Miami-Dade’s first woman Mayor and the first Jewish person to hold the job.