IN RE: ANONYMOUS (2026)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Applicant, a 45–year–old resident of New Jersey, graduated from law school in 2017 and passed the Uniform Bar Examination in that state later that year.  He subsequently transferred his Uniform Bar Examination score to New York and the State Board of Law Examiners certified him for admission to this Court (see Rules of Ct of Appeals [22 NYCRR] § 520.7).  Following a subcommittee interview and a formal hearing, this Court's Committee on Character and Fitness (hereinafter the Committee) issued a decision recommending disapproval of his application for admission.  Applicant now petitions this Court for an order granting his application for admission to practice notwithstanding the Committee's decision (see Rules of App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 805.1[j] ).

It is applicant's burden to demonstrate that he possesses the character and general fitness requisite for admission (see Matter of Anonymous, 97 NY2d 332, 334 [2002];  Matter of Anonymous, 237 AD3d 1465, 1465 [3d Dept 2025] ).  Here, the record establishes that, approximately two decades ago, applicant was convicted of multiple felony sexual offenses involving minors – crimes committed while he was serving as a police officer in New Jersey.  Based on the foregoing, his subsequent application for admission to the practice of law in New Jersey was denied upon a determination by the Supreme Court of New Jersey that, among other things, the severity of his criminal conduct warranted withholding of certification as an attorney in that state with no right to reapply.  Applicant's subsequent application for a New Jersey real estate license was likewise denied on character grounds.  Further, he remains classified as a sex offender in New Jersey and is subject to lifetime registration requirements.

Indeed, applicant submitted evidence of his purported rehabilitation over the ensuing two decades, including his extensive mental health treatment, favorable evaluations from his treating mental health providers and his lengthy period of law-abiding conduct.  Although such rehabilitative evidence is not without significance, the Committee nevertheless identified significant character and fitness concerns with his present application, including various omissions throughout the application process and his tendency to shift responsibility for his past and present difficulties onto other persons or entities.  The Committee also noted with concern the elaborate efforts that applicant has taken to minimize or obscure his criminal history from public scrutiny.¹

Upon review, we find that applicant's conduct weighs heavily against a finding that he currently possesses the requisite character and fitness to practice law and, instead, demonstrates substantial deficiencies in his candor, judgment and acceptance of responsibility – qualities fundamental to the practice of law.  Moreover, given the profoundly serious nature of applicant's underlying misconduct, his continued status as a registered sex offender and the necessity of maintaining public trust and confidence in the integrity of the legal profession, we conclude that he has failed to demonstrate that he presently possesses the character and general fitness requisite for an attorney and counselor-at-law (see Judiciary Law § 90 [1] [a] ).  Accordingly, his petition is denied.

ORDERED that the petition is denied.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Notably, applicant explicitly declined to appeal the denial of his application for a New Jersey real estate license to avoid a public hearing, and obtained a legal name change after being adopted as an adult by his former criminal defense attorney.

Per Curiam.

Garry, P.J., Reynolds Fitzgerald, Ceresia, Corcoran and Ryba, JJ., concur.