Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions v. Rules
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
No. 89-R-99012-SCT
IN RE: RULES GOVERNING ADMISSION TO THE MISSISSIPPI BAR
ORDER
This matter has come before the Court, en banc, on Petition filed by Chadwick L. Shook wherein he
suggests that a commission should be established by the Chief Justice for the purpose of reviewing the Rules
Governing Admission to the Mississippi Bar. The Court has considered the petition, and finds that the
creation of such a commission is appropriate and will promote the fair and efficient administration of justice.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Petition of Chadwick L. Shook be and is hereby granted to the
extent set forth herein. The Chief Justice's Commission on Bar Admissions Review is hereby established.
Such commission shall be composed of the Hon. Lawrence J. Franck as chairman and other citizens of the
state to be designated by separate order.
The Commission is charged with the responsibility of conducting a full review and assessment of the
practices and procedures of the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions in the creation, administration and
evaluation of the Mississippi State Bar Examination.
The primary objectives of the review are:
To evaluate whether the content of and evaluation of the Mississippi State Bar Examination as provided for
in Rule IX of the Rules Governing Admission to the Mississippi Bar, is a fair, appropriate, efficient and
sufficient measure of the legal competence and reasoning abilities of applicants to the Mississippi State Bar;
To compare Rule IX of the Rules Governing Admission to the Mississippi Bar with equivalent rules of
equivalent authorities in the other United States jurisdictions and territories and identify significant
differences in those jurisdictions which may strengthen the admission procedures and improve the integrity
of the admissions process;
To examine the appeals procedure and process set forth in Rule X of the Rules Governing Admission to the
Mississippi Bar with equivalent rules of equivalent authorities in the other United States jurisdictions and
territories and identify significant differences in those jurisdictions as compared to the Mississippi process
which may strengthen the admissions procedures and improve the integrity of the admissions process;
To compare Rule II of the Rules Governing Admission to the Mississippi Bar with equivalent rules of
equivalent authorities in other United States jurisdictions and territories and identify significant differences in
those jurisdictions which may strengthen the admissions procedures and improve the integrity of the
admissions process;
To conduct a survey of members of the Mississippi Bar to obtain their input as to their experiences with the
Mississippi State Bar Examination, their experiences with other state bar examinations, if any, and their
ideas and suggestions as to how the Mississippi State Bar examination can be improved for the benefit of
the legal profession and the public in the State of Mississippi.
The Commission shall submit to the Supreme Court such reports as it deems beneficial or as the Chief
Justice may request, and, in any event, shall submit a final report to the Supreme Court setting out in detail
the Commission's findings, conclusion and recommendations no later than seven months following the entry
of this order, or as may be extended by further order of the Court.
The Board of Bar Admissions and its chair shall provide the Commission with such support, co-operation
and assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Commission.
The members of the Commission shall be reimbursed by the Administrative Office of Courts for travel,
meals and lodging appropriate to their service on the Commission at rates equal to those allowed state
employees traveling within the state in the performance of their duties. Further, office facilities, clerical and
research assistance will be provided by the Administrative Office of Courts.
SO ORDERED, this the 19th day of December, 2000.
/s/ Lenore L. Prather
LENORE L. PRATHER, CHIEF JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT
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