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-2575 IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-1913
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.
CLARK, J., would deny admission and assigns reasons.
10/15/14
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 13-OB-2575
IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-1913
ON APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR
PER CURIAM
Petitioner successfully passed the essay portion of the Louisiana Bar
Examination. However, the Committee on Bar Admissions (“Committee”) advised
petitioner that it was unable to certify him for admission to the bar on character and
fitness grounds relating to his prior criminal history and his failure to fully and
accurately disclose his criminal history on both his law school application and his
bar application.
Petitioner then applied to this court for admission to the practice of law. We
remanded the 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.
10/15/14
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
NO. 13-OB-2575
IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-1913
ON APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR
Clark, J., dissenting.
I would deny admission.
Petitioner has a record of criminal conduct, and perhaps more seriously,
petitioner has shown a pattern of dishonesty by failing to report his complete
criminal history on his law school admission and on 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.