Case ID: pa_194/html/0161-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re Petition of John S. Rodgers.
    
      Attorneys at law — Admission of attorney from another state.
    
    The Supreme Court will not, upon petition without more, order and decree that a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of another state who has become a resident of Pennsylvania, be authorized and licensed to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in the Supreme Court of the state of Pennsylvania, no certificate being presented from the presiding judge of the court of his last residence, setting forth that he is of reputable professional standing as a member of the bar of his county.
    
      
      It seems that- the Supreme Court will not admit directly an attorney coming from another state who has become a resident of one of the judicial districts of the commonwealth.
    In re petition of John S. Rodgers for admission as an attorney to practice iii the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
    The petition is as follows :
    “The petition of .the undersigned, John S. Rodgers, county of Washington, state of Pennsylvania, respectfully represents: That John S. Rodgers, on the 15th day of June, 1893, exhibited to the Supreme Court of the state of Illinois, of the United States, satisfactory evidence of his good moral character and of his qualifications to practice as an attorney and counselor at law, in the courts of the aforesaid state of Illinois, and on that date the Supreme Court of aforesaid state authorized and licensed the said John S. Rodgers to practice as such attorney and counselor at law during his good behavior in the courts of the said state of Illinois, wherein he remains in good standing.
    “Your petitioner further represents that he has changed his domicile unto his native state of Pennsylvania, and now is a citizen of said state, and desires admission into the Supreme Court thereof, and hereby respectfully applies unto your honors, the honorable justices of the Supreme Court, for authority and license to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in the Supreme Court of the state of Pennsylvania, in accordance to the rules of comity existing between states, as recognized in Splane’s Appeal, 123 Pa. 527, and otherwise.
    “Your petitioner further respectfully represents that at the time the constitutions of the United States and of the state of Pennsylvania were adopted, it was the privilege of the legal profession for lawyers to remove into any state ad libitim, and be admitted to the courts of said state, by virtue of their certificate of the court whence they came; no exception was taken to the usage in the southern states, so far as your petitioner can find.
    “ Your petitioner further respectfully represents that this and other privileges were assured unto the people of the United States by the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States, article 4, section 2, viz: ‘ The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens of the several states.’ In commenting upon said section, the Supreme Court of the United States in Corfield v. Coryell, 4 W. C. C. 881, said: ‘ Privileges and immunities mean the right of a citizen of one state to pass through, reside in any other state for purposes of trade, agriculture, professional pursuits or otherwise.’
    December 30, 1899:
    “ These and many others which might be mentioned are, strictly speaking, privileges and immunities, and the enjoyment of them by the citizens of each state in every other state was manifestly calculated (to use the expression of the preamble of the corresponding provision in the old articles of confederation), the better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different states of the union: Corfield v. Coryell, 4 W. C. C. 381.
    “ ‘ In the way of further assuring the people of the United States the benefit of civil liberty, the people ordained and established in the constitution that full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other state: ’ Art. 4, see. 1. In pursuance of said article, congress enacted a statute prescribing the effect thereof, to wit: ‘ And the said records and exemplifications so authenticated shall have such faith and credit given to them in every court and office within the United States as they have, by law or usage, in the courts or offices of the state whence the same was taken: ’ 1 11. S. sec. 905.
    “Your petitioner further respectfully represents the finding of the United States district court in Cummings v. State of Missouri, 4 Wall. 321. The theory upon which our political institution rests is, that all men have certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness; all avocations, all honors, all positions are alike open to every one, and that in the protection of these rights all are equal before the law. Also, the holding of the United States district court in Baker v. City of Portland, 8 Reporter, 392, that the invitation of residence implies the right to earn a living.
    [Signed] “John S. Rodgers.”
   Per Curiam,

Upon due consideration of the within petition the prayer thereof is denied, and the petition is dismissed.