IN RE: Pierre Henri BERGERON (2025)

OPINION AND ORDER

Pierre Henri Bergeron was admitted to the practice of law with the Kentucky Bar Association (“KBA”) on April 21, 2005. Bergeron was admitted to the Bar in the state of Ohio on November 8, 1999, and in the state of Florida on September 27, 2012, and is a member in good standing in said jurisdictions.

Bergeron filed a Motion to Withdraw from Membership in the KBA pursuant to Supreme Court Rule (“SCR”) 3.480(1) in 2018, at which time he was a member in good standing with no disciplinary history. This Court granted his Motion to Withdraw on February 19, 2019. Bergeron served as a Judge on the Ohio First District Court of Appeals from February 9, 2019, until February 8, 2025.

On October 11, 2024, Bergeron filed an Application for Restoration pursuant to SCR 3.504. Bergeron has been engaged in the active practice of law five of the last seven years preceding the filing of his Application. The Inquiry Commission filed notice that it had completed its investigation on January 21, 2025. The Application was received by the Officer of Bar Admissions on February 5, 2025. Neither Bar Counsel nor Bergeron requested a hearing in the matter.

The Character and Fitness Committee of the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions (“the Committee”) reviewed Bergeron's Application. Among other things, the Application included a letter from Chief Bar Counsel certifying Bergeron has no pending discipline in Kentucky and has not been the subject of any claims against the Clients’ Security Fund. Furthermore, the Committee reviewed a letter from Cassie H. Cooper, Director for Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”), noting that Bergeron is current on Kentucky CLE requirements. The Committee subsequently found that Bergeron fulfills the requirements of SCR 2.110 and SCR 2.010 and now recommends to this Court that he be admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

A former member of the KBA whose withdrawal from membership has prevailed for five (5) years or longer may apply for restoration, without examination, under SCR 3.504(e). In relevant part, this rule states:

As an alternative and upon referral from the Board of Governors, if the Applicant has practiced in a reciprocal jurisdiction after withdrawal pursuant to SCR 3.480 and meets all requirements of SCR 2.110, the Applicant may elect to have the Character and Fitness Committee consider an application for admission without examination. All fees required shall be paid prior to the processing of the application, instead of the fee referenced in subsection 3(d) of this rule. If the Applicant passes the examination or is approved for admission without examination, such fact shall be certified to the Court and to the Director, together with a recommendation for the Applicant's restoration to membership. Upon this certification, the Disciplinary Clerk shall transmit the record to the Court for its consideration of the application for restoration.

Upon review of the record, this Court agrees with the Committee's recommendation. It is hereby ORDERED that Pierre Henri Bergeron is admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Kentucky without examination.

/s/ Debra Hembree Lambert

 CHIEF JUSTICE

All sitting. All concur.