Stetson Law School Faces Donor Boycott Over Pam Bondi

Hundreds of alumni demand school denounce former Trump attorney general or lose funding

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:37pm

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The leadership of Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida is facing a potential donor boycott from over 500 alumni who are demanding the school publicly denounce alumna Pam Bondi for her conduct as Donald Trump's attorney general. The alumni, many of them attorneys and former judges, say Bondi's actions during the Jeffrey Epstein case have tarnished the school's reputation and they will withhold donations until the school takes a stand.

Why it matters

As one of Stetson Law School's most prominent graduates, Pam Bondi's actions as attorney general are seen as a reflection on the institution's values. The alumni organizing the boycott argue the school must reaffirm its standards of professionalism, which they believe Bondi failed to uphold.

The details

More than 500 Stetson Law alumni have signed onto a letter demanding the school publicly denounce Bondi or face a coordinated donor strike. The letter, authored by Stetson graduate and attorney Johnny Bardine, was submitted to school officials last month. The alumni met with the school's dean but no resolution was reached. The group has coordinated the boycott during the school's recent fundraising campaign, urging fellow alumni to withhold donations.

  • The letter from alumni was submitted to Stetson Law School officials last month.

The players

Pam Bondi

A 1990 graduate of Stetson University College of Law who served as Donald Trump's attorney general and faced criticism for her handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Johnny Bardine

A Stetson Law graduate and attorney who authored the letter demanding the school denounce Pam Bondi.

Rachael Reese

An attorney involved in the effort to boycott donations to Stetson Law School until the school denounces Pam Bondi.

Stetson University College of Law

A law school located in Gulfport, Florida that is facing a potential donor boycott from alumni over its connection to alumna Pam Bondi.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't about politics. They want Stetson Law School to reaffirm its ideals of professionalism, and they don't believe those ideals were represented by Bondi during that congressional hearing.”

— Johnny Bardine, Stetson Law graduate and attorney

“We reached out to as many alumni as we could, and we kind of began a strike, if you will, of closing all of our wallets and I mean, it's become a lot bigger. We've reached out to the members on the board of trustees. We're just basically trying to make this much bigger than people originally thought it was.”

— Rachael Reese, Attorney

What’s next

The alumni organizing the boycott plan to continue pressuring Stetson Law School to engage with current students and expand outreach to additional alumni.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the reputational risks for educational institutions when prominent alumni engage in conduct that is seen as unethical or at odds with the school's values. Stetson Law School must now grapple with how to address the concerns of its alumni base and uphold its standards of professionalism.