Supreme Court of Louisiana
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE #051
FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
The Opinions handed down on the 15th day of October, 2014, are as follows:
PER CURIAM:
2013-OB-2152 IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-2792
After hearing oral argument, reviewing the evidence, and
considering the law, we conclude petitioner is eligible to be
admitted to the practice of law in Louisiana. Accordingly, it is
ordered that the application for admission be and hereby is
granted.
ADMISSION GRANTED.
VICTORY, J., would deny admission.
GUIDRY, J., dissents and would deny admission.
CLARK, J., would deny admission and assigns reasons.
10/15/14
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 13-OB-2152
IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-2792
ON APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR
PER CURIAM
The Committee on Bar Admissions (“Committee”) opposed petitioner’s
application to sit for the Louisiana Bar Examination based on character and fitness
concerns relating to his prior criminal history and his military disciplinary history.
In addition, the Committee cited a finding by the Texas Board of Bar Examiners
that petitioner had failed to fully and accurately disclose his criminal and military
disciplinary history on his law school application and on his bar application in
Texas. We subsequently granted petitioner permission to sit for the bar exam, with
the condition that upon his successful completion of the exam, he apply to the
court for the appointment of a commissioner to take character and fitness evidence.
Petitioner thereafter successfully passed the essay portion of the bar exam,
and upon his application, we remanded this matter to the Committee on Bar
Admissions Panel on Character and Fitness to conduct an investigation and
appointed a commissioner to take character and fitness evidence. Following the
proceedings, the commissioner filed his report with this court, recommending
petitioner be admitted to the practice of law. Neither party objected to this
recommendation; however, on its own motion, this court ordered the matter
docketed for oral argument.
After hearing oral argument, reviewing the evidence, and considering the
law, we conclude petitioner is eligible to be admitted to the practice of law in
Louisiana. Accordingly, it is ordered that the application for admission be and
hereby is granted.
ADMISSION GRANTED.
2
10/15/14
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 2013-OB-2152
IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-2792
ON APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR
Guidry, J., dissents and would deny admission.
10/15/14
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 13-OB-2152
IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-2792
ON APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR
Clark, J., dissenting.
I voted to deny petitioner’s request to sit for the bar exam, I voted to deny
petitioner’s application for the appointment of a commissioner, and, for the same
reasons, I would deny admission.
Petitioner has a record of both civilian criminal conduct and military
criminal conduct. Further, and perhaps more seriously, petitioner shown a pattern
of dishonesty by failing to report his complete criminal history and/or his
employment history on his law school admission, his application for admission to
the Texas Bar, and his application for admission to the Louisiana Bar.
A license to practice law in Louisiana is a privilege, not a right, and
petitioner has shown by his illegal and dishonest conduct that he is not entitled to
that privilege. By admitting petitioner to the Louisiana Bar, the Court is lowering
the standards demanded of members of the Bar.
In Re COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-1913
Combined Opinion