D.D.C.Litigation
Justice Department asks court to keep EEOC's Big Law diversity probe records secret
The Justice Department asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., in an October 5, 2026, filing to let the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission withhold records of its 2025 probes into large law firms' diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Public Citizen sued the EEOC under the Freedom of Information Act in December 2025 seeking the documents.
Key points
- DOJ asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to keep records of the EEOC's law firm DEI probes from release.Bloomberg Law
- DOJ argued the EEOC must not disclose information showing whether a charge exists against an entity.Bloomberg Law
- Public Citizen sued the EEOC under the Freedom of Information Act in December 2025 for failing to release the records.Bloomberg Law
- In March 2025 the EEOC sent letters to 20 large law firms seeking hiring data on applicants since 2019.Bloomberg Law
- Firms including Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher and A&O Shearman settled with the administration and the EEOC on undisclosed terms.Bloomberg Law