Federal shutdown hits DC, Maryland bar exam
A lack of funding stemming from the federal government’s shutdown is forcing Maryland and the District of Columbia to place restrictions on registration for the February 2026 bar exam, leaving candidates scrambling.
On Monday, the Maryland Supreme Court issued an administrative order limiting the number of test-takers in February to 400. This follows an Oct. 3 order by the neighboring District of Columbia Court of Appeals that indefinitely postpones registration of its February administration, originally scheduled to start Oct. 6.
“Applicants are encouraged to consider and seek alternative testing arrangements,” the announcement on the Washington, D.C. court’s website states.
The Georgetown University Law Center is providing its students “maximum support in light of the distressing developments,” wrote Joshua C. Teitelbaum, the law school’s interim dean, to the ABA Journal.
Faculty are encouraging candidates to consider taking the test in another jurisdiction that’s administering the Uniform Bar Examination, consult with their employers regarding options, and apply for the limited seats in Maryland, he says.
Additionally, Georgetown Law administrators intend to “proactively work” with the D.C. Court of Appeals “to implement a solution to the serious negative impact that this situation will have on law graduates who have relied upon the orderly administration of the bar examination,” he says.
The federal government shutdown began earlier this month, making it the second-longest shutdown in history—compared to the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019 during the first Trump administration.
Maryland typically tests fewer than 400 candidates during February administrations, but limitations on space and financial resources might make it hard to handle the candidates who were poised to take the D.C. test and now have to find alternative exam arrangements, according to the state’s order.
In February 2025, 693 candidates took D.C.’s bar exam, while 317 took the Maryland exam, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Virginia, where 288 applicants took the test in February 2025, has “no plans to limit the number of exam takers,” according to an email to the Journal signed by the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners.
From Nov. 1 until Nov. 10, applicants retaking Maryland’s bar exam will have the first shot at their applications being processed, according to the order, and on Nov. 12, the remaining seats will be processed on a first come, first served basis.
The D.C. Court of Appeals’ website does not say when February registration will open, but it noted that July 2025 bar exam results will be released Oct. 31. The D.C. Court of Appeals functions similarly to a state supreme court but is directly connected to Congress, making it directly impacted by the federal government shutdown.
February marks the last time that Maryland is scheduled to administer the UBE before the NextGen bar exam is launched in July 2026. In June, the Maryland Supreme Court limited the number of examinees for that administration to 1,000 applicants because of financial and space constraints.
See also:
Federal courts furlough some staff as money runs out; Supreme Court will close to the public
How the federal judiciary will continue operations during shutdown
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