Recently, it was made aware that several students at Barry University's School of Law engaged in harmful racist rhetoric on Facebook. Among the many things stated one person wrote, "This BLM movement is laughable. There's no way any respectable black or other man/woman would stand behind these events." We are asking that the university takes action and properly reprimands every student involved. 

The Florida Bar Oath states:

"I do solemnly swear: 

“I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida; 

“I will maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers; 

“I will not counsel or maintain any suit or proceedings which shall appear to me to be unjust, nor any defense except such as I believe to be honestly debatable under the law of the land; 

“I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to me such means only as are consistent with truth and honor, and will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact or law; 

“I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my clients, and will accept no compensation in connection with their business except from them or with their knowledge and approval; 

“I will abstain from all offensive personality and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged; 

“I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay anyone’s cause for lucre or malice. So help me God.”

Professional Responsibility of Rules of Ethics 

Rule 8.4     Misconduct

(g)   engage in conduct that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or socioeconomic status in conduct related to the practice of law. This paragraph does not limit the ability of a lawyer to accept, decline or withdraw from a representation in accordance with Rule 1.16. This paragraph does not preclude legitimate advice or advocacy consistent with these Rules.

[3]     Discrimination and harassment by lawyers in violation of paragraph (g) undermine confidence in the legal profession and the legal system. Such discrimination includes harmful verbal or physical conduct that manifests bias or prejudice towards others. Harassment includes sexual harassment and derogatory or demeaning verbal or physical conduct. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. The substantive law of antidiscrimination and anti-harassment statutes and case law may guide application of paragraph (g).

These students are in direct violation of that oath, the Student Handbook and the Professional Responsibility Rules of Ethics. We ask that you hold all those students accountable because there is no room for racist ideologies in the legal profession.