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-2592 IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-1979
Accordingly, it is ordered that the application for admission be
and hereby is denied. In accordance with Supreme Court Rule XVII,
Section 9(D)(13), petitioner may not reapply for admission until
two years have passed from the date of this judgment.
ADMISSION DENIED.
10/15/14
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 13-OB-2592
IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-1979
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 failure to disclose a DWI arrest on his law school
application. 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 appointed a commissioner to take evidence and report
to this court whether petitioner possesses the appropriate character and fitness to be
admitted to the bar and allowed to practice law in the State of Louisiana. We also
authorized the Committee on Bar Admissions Panel on Character and Fitness to
conduct an investigation into petitioner’s qualifications to be admitted to the bar.
The commissioner conducted a character and fitness hearing pursuant to
Supreme Court Rule XVII, § 9(D)(6). The commissioner received documentary
evidence and heard testimony on a variety of issues in addition to those raised by
the Committee when petitioner was initially denied permission to sit for the bar
exam. These issues included petitioner’s involvement in a hit and run accident in
which alcohol was allegedly a factor, a pattern of financial irresponsibility on the
part of petitioner, and a lack of candor by petitioner in connection with his
application for admission to the Louisiana Bar.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the commissioner filed his report with this
court, recommending admission be denied. Petitioner objected to that
recommendation, and oral argument was conducted before this court pursuant to
Supreme Court Rule XVII, § 9(D)(11).
After hearing oral argument, reviewing the evidence, and considering the
law, we conclude petitioner has failed to meet his burden of proving that he has
“good moral character” to be admitted to the Louisiana State Bar Association. See
Supreme Court Rule XVII, § 5(E).
Accordingly, it is ordered that the application for admission be and hereby is
denied. In accordance with Supreme Court Rule XVII, § 9(D)(13), petitioner may
not reapply for admission until two years have passed from the date of this
judgment.
ADMISSION DENIED.
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