IN RE: JAMES L. SALMON (2026)

James L. Salmon (“Salmon”) seeks restoration of his license to practice law in Kentucky after his license was suspended for non-payment of Kentucky Bar Association (“KBA”) dues for the July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, fiscal year. The Office of Bar Counsel forwarded the matter to the Character and Fitness Committee (“Committee”) of the Office of Bar Admissions (“OBA”). The Committee recommended restoration. Salmon was then referred to the Board of Bar Examiners to take the restoration exam. On March 10, 2026, Salmon received a passing score on the examination and received the Board of Bar Examiners’ recommendation to be readmitted to the KBA. For the reasons set forth below, we restore Salmon to the practice of law.

I. BACKGROUND

Salmon, who currently resides at 134 Sergeant Avenue, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, was admitted to the KBA in 2000. On December 8, 2009, Salmon was suspended from the practice of law in Kentucky under SCR ¹ 3.050 for non-payment of KBA dues for the July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, fiscal year. He was also suspended from the practice of law in Wyoming and Ohio for non-payment of dues and for failing to maintain sufficient Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.

On February 20, 2025, Salmon filed an Application for Restoration with the KBA, which included supporting documents. The KBA issued a memorandum on May 6, 2024, that stated that Salmon did not have pending discipline and had not been the subject of any claims against the Clients’ Security Fund. The KBA Accounting Department certified on February 18, 2025, that Salmon's dues were paid through the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year. The CLE Commission of the KBA issued a memorandum on February 20, 2025, that stated that Salmon was compliant with the CLE requirements set forth in SCR 3.685 for purposes of restoration during the 2024 to 2025 educational year.

Salmon disclosed in his application that he was reinstated as a member of the Ohio bar in 2020. Salmon currently practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, as an attorney with Rolfes Henry Co., LPA. Salmon further affirmed that he has never: (1) been charged with unprofessional or unethical conduct; (2) been charged with violating any law (other than traffic violations); (3) had an emergency protective order or domestic violence order issued against him; (4) been charged with fraud in any legal proceeding; (5) been discharged for unsatisfactory work; (6) been requested to resign from employment; or (7) been adjudicated incompetent or otherwise legally incapacitated. The Committee notes that the record contains no evidence to contradict these statements. In his application, Salmon stated that he filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

As required by the application, Salmon provided the names and addresses of three former clients as well as affidavits from three Kentucky attorneys in good standing, each of whom attested to the character and fitness of Salmon to practice law in Kentucky.

The Inquiry Commission issued a notice and order on March 6, 2025, determining that Salmon's application and the investigation by the Office of Bar Counsel were complete. The application was then referred to the Committee for further review and proceedings. Salmon and the Office of Bar Counsel agreed that a formal hearing on Salmon's restoration should not be required. After reviewing the full application and additional information provided by Salmon, the Committee agreed that a formal hearing was not required. The Committee found that Salmon “met the standards set forth in SCR 2.011 and has proven by clear and convincing evidence that he possesses the requisite character, fitness, and moral qualification for restoration to the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” Accordingly, on May 9, 2025, the Committee submitted its report recommending that Salmon's Application for Restoration be approved. The Committee's report and recommendation specified that, if after thirty days no appeal is taken, under the provisions of SCR 3.504, Salmon may be referred to the Board of Bar Examiners to take the restoration exam or, alternatively, he may be referred by the Board of Governors to apply for admission without examination pursuant to SCR 2.110.

On April 7, 2026, this Court received the OBA's certification that Salmon had taken the special examination for restoration on March 10, 2026, and received a passing score. Accordingly, the OBA recommended that Salmon be readmitted as a member to the KBA.

II. ANALYSIS

Under SCR 3.504(1), “[a] former member ․ who was suspended for failure to pay dues as provided by SCR 3.050 ․ may be restored to membership upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this rule.” The rule requires that the former member whose suspension from membership has prevailed for five years or longer submit an application and filing fee, as well as all unpaid dues, a certificate from the Office of Bar Counsel that the former member has no pending disciplinary matters, and a certificate from the Director of Continuing Legal Education. SCR 3.504(3). Upon the filing of the foregoing items, the Director shall refer the application to the Inquiry Commission, which imposes an additional fee to be paid to the KBA. Id. The Committee then reviews the application. Id. If the Committee recommends approval of the application and no appeal is taken to the Board of Governors within thirty days, the applicant becomes eligible to sit for the written examination. Id. If the applicant passes the examination, such fact, along with a recommendation for the Applicant's restoration to membership, is certified to the Court and to the Director. Id. “The burden of proof for establishing the Applicant's present qualifications to practice law in Kentucky is on the Applicant.” SCR 3.504(5).

Having reviewed the application, record, and recommendations from the Committee and the Board of Bar Examiners and noting that neither recommendation requested conditions to be imposed, we agree with the recommendations and hereby restore Salmon to the practice of law.

ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT James L. Salmon's application for restoration is GRANTED.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Rules of the Supreme Court.

All sitting. All concur.