IN RE: COMMITTEE ON BAR ADMISSIONS CFN-723868 (2023)

Admission denied. See per curiam.

BAR ADMISSIONS PROCEEDING

Petitioner applied to take the Louisiana Bar Examination. The Committee on Bar Admissions advised petitioner that it could not certify him to take the bar exam on character and fitness grounds. Petitioner then applied to this court for permission to take the bar exam. We granted the application, with the condition that upon petitioner's successful completion of the exam, he apply for the appointment of a commissioner to take character and fitness evidence.

Upon passing the bar exam, petitioner applied to this court for the appointment of a commissioner. 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. The primary issues raised during the proceedings were (1) petitioner's criminal history; (2) his pattern of undergraduate misconduct; (3) his lack of candor in applying to law school and in submitting his applications to the National Conference of Bar Examiners; and (4) his neglect of his financial obligations.

Following the proceedings, the commissioner filed his report with this court, recommending petitioner's application for admission be denied. Neither party objected to this recommendation.

After 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(D). 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 re-apply for admission until one year has passed from the date of this judgment.

ADMISSION DENIED.

Hughes, J., would grant conditional admission.