Case Title: In the Matter of Murray

Citation: 

Docket Number: SJC-13290

State: massachusetts

Court: Massachusetts Supreme Court

Date: 2023-06-28T00:00:00Z

Document:
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SJC-13290 
 
IN THE MATTER OF JAMES MURRAY.1 
 
 
June 28, 2023. 
 
 
Attorney at Law, Bar application, Admission to practice.  
Supreme Judicial Court, Membership in the bar. 
 
 
 
The petitioner, James Murray, also known as James Hines, 
appeals from the judgment of a single justice of this court 
denying, without a hearing, his "Petition to take the 
Massachusetts Bar Examination" and his motion for partial 
summary judgment.  The single justice observed that persons 
desiring admission to the bar of the Commonwealth are subject to 
the requirements of S.J.C. Rule 3:01 and that Murray's filing 
did not comply with the rule.  See S.J.C. Rule 3:01, as 
appearing in 478 Mass. 1301 (2018).  We affirm.2 
 
1 Also known as James Hines. 
 
2 Murray has sought leave to use materials filed with the 
county court and this court in connection with a prior case, 
Murray v. Massachusetts Parole Bd., 481 Mass. 1019 (2018), which 
also were referenced in the county court filings; to use the 
county court filings on appeal; and to file fewer copies of his 
materials than the rules require; and he requests that both 
rulings of the single justice be considered together.  Those 
requests are allowed.  In addition, however, Murray asks the 
court to take judicial notice of various other materials that 
were not before the single justice and seeks relief -- a waiver 
of the requirements of S.J.C. Rule 3:01 entirely -- that he did 
not request from the single justice.  We decline to consider 
materials that were not before the single justice, see Matter of 
Ellis, 425 Mass. 332, 334 n.1 (1997), or "issues, arguments, or 
claims for relief raised for the first time on appeal," Cariglia 
2 
 
 
The procedures and requirements for admission to the bar of 
the Commonwealth are described in G. L. c. 221, § 37, and S.J.C. 
Rule 3:01.  See Wei Jia v. Board of Bar Examiners, 427 Mass. 
777, 780 (1998).  See also Matter of Swanson, 483 Mass. 1022, 
1023 (2019) ("[t]his court has the authority to establish the 
rules and standards by which individuals become licensed to 
practice law in Massachusetts"); Osakwe v. Board of Bar 
Examiners, 448 Mass. 85, 87 (2006).  Among other things, an 
applicant to the bar is required to file a "Petition for 
Admission accompanied by the recommendation of a member of the 
bar"; "Petitioner's Statement"; "Authorization Form"; "Law 
School Certificate"; "Multistate Professional Responsibility 
Examination Score Report that sets forth a passing scaled score 
that meets or exceeds the Massachusetts required score"; "Two 
(2) Letters of Recommendation for Admission"; and "Current 
Certificate(s) of Admission and Good Standing from the highest 
judicial court of each state, district, territory or foreign 
country to which the petitioner is admitted, if applicable."  
S.J.C. Rule 3:01, § 1.1.  Because Murray's filing did not 
include all the materials required by the rule, his present 
application is incomplete.  See Matter of Swanson, supra at 
1024.  "It therefore has not been referred to the board for a 
report 'as to the character, acquirements and qualifications of 
the petitioner.'"  Id., quoting S.J.C. Rule 3:01, § 1.4.   
 
When Murray files the materials enumerated in S.J.C. Rule 
3:01, § 1.4, "and his application is otherwise complete, it will 
be referred to the board for its consideration."  Swanson, 483 
Mass. at 1024.  See Osakwe, 448 Mass. at 87.  "The board 
examines an applicant's education and moral character.  Those 
satisfying its standards may sit for the bar examination and, if 
successful, be admitted to practice. . . .  The educational 
requirements to sit for the examination include a . . . college 
degree (or the equivalent)," id., and that the petitioner have 
graduated from a law school that meets the rule's criteria.  See 
S.J.C. Rule 3:01, §§ 3.1, 3.2.   
 
We recognize that the court has authority to waive 
particular requirements of S.J.C. Rule 3:01 and that it has 
exercised that authority in appropriate circumstances.  See, 
e.g., Novak v. Board of Bar Examiners, 397 Mass. 270, 274 
(1986).  In the county court, Murray's "declaration" expressly 
sought a waiver of the provisions of S.J.C. Rule 3:01, § 3.3, 
 
v. Bar Counsel, 442 Mass. 372, 379 (2004).  All other requests 
for relief are denied.   
3 
which concerns the requirement that a petitioner successfully 
complete the Massachusetts bar examination.  He also suggested 
that he is qualified to receive an honorary law degree.  Murray 
did not, however, seek a waiver of other requirements of S.J.C. 
Rule 3:01.  In the circumstances, there was no error in the 
single justice's determination that Murray's filing did not 
comply with the rule.  See Novak, 397 Mass. at 271.  We decline 
to consider for the first time on appeal whether, as Murray now 
argues, the rule's requirements should be broadly waived.  See 
Cariglia v. Bar Counsel, 442 Mass. 372, 379 (2004). 
 
 
The judgment of the single justice denying on the record 
before him Murray's "Petition to take the Massachusetts Bar 
Examination" is affirmed.  The single justice's denial of 
Murray's motion for partial summary judgment also is affirmed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
So ordered. 
 
 
 
The case was submitted on briefs. 
 
James Murray, pro se.