In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: S e p te m b e r 1 4

, 2 0 1 5

S 1 5 Z0 5 55

. IN THE MATTER OF JONATHAN RICHARD

HUDDLES TON.

P ER CURIAM.

On Ja n u a ry 2 8, 2 0 13

, Jo n a th a n Ri c h ard Hu dd le sto n su b m itte d a n

a p p lic a tio n fo r c e rtific a tio n o f fitn e ss to p ra c tic e la w to th e O f f i c e o f Ba r

Ad m issio n s in o rd e r to ta k e th e Ge o rg ia Ba r Ex a m

. Ho we v e r, a fte r c o n sid e rin g

Hu d dle sto n ’s a

p p lic a tio n

, th e Bo a rd to De t e r mi n e Fitn e ss o f Ba r Ap p lic a n ts

(“ Bo a rd ” ) fo u n d th a t th e a p p lic a tio n sh o w e d th a t Hu d d le sto n d e m o n stra te d a

la c k o f ju d g m e n t, c a nd o r, in te g rity

, c h a ra c te r, p ro fe ssio na lism

, re h a b ilita tio n

fro m p rio r u n e th ic a l a c ts a n d th e re q u isite m o ra l fitn e ss re q u ire d o f a

p ro sp e c tiv e m e m

b e r o f th e S ta te Ba

r o f Ge o rg ia

.

A h e a ri n g o n th e m a tte r wa s h e ld b e fo re a Sp e c ia l Ma ste r o n Ma y 2 9

,

2 0 1 4, a n d th e S p e c ia l Ma ste r fo u n d th a t Hu dd le st o n h a d fa lse ly an swe re d

q u e stio n s o n his a

p p lic a tio n fo r a d m issio n to Ba rry Un iv e rsity S c h o o l o f La w;

th a t h e fa lse ly a

n swe re d q u e stio n s o n h is a p p lic a tio n fo r tra n sfe r a d m issio n toJo h n Ma rsh a ll La w S c h o o l; a n d th a t h e fa lse ly a n swe re d q ue stio ns a n d fa ile d to

fu lly d isc lo se re q u e ste d in fo rm a tio n o n h is o rig in a l a p p lic a tio n fo r c e rtific a tio n

o f fitn e ss; a ll o f wh ic h le d th e S p e c ia l Ma ste r to c o n c lu d e th a t “[Hu d dle sto n ’s]

fa ilu re to a d e q u a te ly a

n d fu lly d isc lo se h is pre v io u s a rre sts, c h a rg e s, a n d

c o n v ic tio n s e v id e n c e s a p a tte rn o f la c k o f c a n d or a n d h o n e sty .” Th e S p e c ia l

Ma ste r re c o m m e n d e d t o t h e Bo a rd th a t it de la y m a k in g a n y ru lin g o n

Hu d d l e s to n ’s a

p p lic a tio n fo r six m o nth s in o rd e r to g iv e Hu d d le sto n a n

o p p ortu n ity to p ro v id e a ny e v id e n c e o f “p o sitiv e a c tio n sh o win g re h a b ilita tio n .”

H o w e v e r, wh ile th e Bo a rd a c c e p te d th e S p e c ia l Ma ste r’s fin d in g s o f fa c t a n d

c o n c lu sio n s o f la w, it d id n o t d e la y its ru lin g o n Hu d d le sto n ’s a p p lic a tio n a n d

v o te d to issu e a n Ord e r o f D e n i a l to Hu d d le sto n

, wh ic h p re v e n te d h im fro m

sittin g to ta k e th e Ba r Ex a m

. Hu d d le sto n a p p e a ls fro m th e Bo a rd ’s d e c isio n

,

a n d , fo r th e re a so n s th a t fo llo w, we a ffirm

.

Hu d dle sto n ’s Crimin a l a n d

Ac a d e mic Histo ry

In o rd e r to p la c e Hu d d le sto n ’s h isto ry o f d isc lo su re s a n d o m issio n s in to

p ro p e r c o n te xt, so m e ba c k g ro u n d in fo rm a tio n o n H ud dle sto n’s c rim in a l a n d

a c a d e m ic h isto ry is re q uire d

. With re sp e c t to c rim in a l m a tte rs, Hu dd le sto n wa s

2(1 ) a r r es t e d in Ma ry la n d in Ap ril 20 0 6 fo r DUI, a n d th is c h a rg e wa s la te r

d ism isse d wh e n H u d d le sto n w a s se n te n c e d to pro b a tio n ; (2 ) a rre ste d in Ge o rg ia

in Au g u st 2 0 0 6 fo r D UI, a nd th is c h a rg e wa s re d u c e d to u n d e ra g e p o sse ssio n o f

a lc o h o l b a se d o n a g u ilty p le a fro m Hu d d le sto n ; (3 ) a rre ste d in In d ia na in Ma rc h

2 0 0 7 fo r DUI, a n d h e p le d g u ilty to th is c h a rg e ; a n d (4 ) a rre ste d in Atla n ta a n d

d e ta in e d fo r d i s o r de rly c on d u c t in Au g u st 2 0 1 1, b u t h e wa s re le a se d with o u t

fo rm a l c h a rg e s b e i n g p u rsu e d

. With re sp e c t to h is a c a d e m ic h isto ry

, a s a n

u n d e rg ra d ua te stu d en t a t In d ia n a Un iv e rsity

, H u dd le sto n wa s fo u n d to h a v e

p la g ia riz e d a

c la ss p a pe r, a n d h e wa s sa nc tio n e d b y re c e iv in g n o c re dit fo r th e

a ssig nm e n t. Be fo re tra n sfe rrin g to Jo hn M a rsh a ll L a w S c h o o l

, Hu d d le sto n

a tte n d e d B a rry Un iv e rsity S c h o o l o f La w

, wh e re h e wa s pla c e d o n a c a d e m ic

p ro b a tio n f

o r h a v in g a c u m

u la tiv e G P A o f 1 .8 6 0

. Wh ile a tte n d in g Jo h n M a rsh a ll

La w S c ho o l, Hu d d le sto n wa s d ism isse d fro m th e sc h o ol in Ju n e 2 0 1 2 fo r fa ilu re

to m e e t its a c a d e m ic sta n d a rd s, bu t wa s la te r re in sta te d in Au g ust 2 0 1 2

, wh ic h

a llo w e d h im

to g ra d u a te in th e sp rin g o f 2 0 1 3

.

Hu d dle sto n ’s Histo ry o

f S e le c tiv e Disc lo su re s

On h is Ap ril 29

, 2 0 1 0 a

p p lic a tio n to Ba rry Un iv e rsity S c h o o l o f La w, in

wh ic h h e ce r t i f

i e d th a t h e h a d su b m itte d “ c o m p le te a n d c o rre c t” in fo rm a tio n

,

3Hu d dle sto n fa ile d to d isc lo se a n y o f h is p rio r a rre sts d e sp ite be in g sp e c ific a lly

a sk e d a b o ut a n y p rio r fe lo ny o r m isd e m e a n o r c h a rg e s. Also

, de sp ite h a v in g b e e n

sa n c tio n e d fo r c om m ittin g p la g i a r ism a s a n u nd e rg ra d u a te stu de n t a t In d ia n a

Un iv e rsity , h e a n swe re d “ n o ” wh e n sp e c ific a lly a sk e d :

Ha v e y o u e v e r b e e n a c c u se d o f c h e a t i n g

, p la g ia rism

, or o th e r

a c a d e m ic d ish o ne sty a t a n y sc h o o l? H a v e y o u e v e r b e e n a c c use d o f

a v io la tio n o f a n h o n o r c o d e o r stu d e n t c o n d u c t c o d e

, wa rn e d

,

p la c e d o n sc ho la stic o r d isc ip lin a ry p ro b a tio n

, su sp e n de d

, e x p e lle d

,

o r o th e rwise su b

je c te d to d isc ip lin e b y a ny c olle ge [? ]

Afte r be in g a dm itte d to Ba rry Un iv e rsity

, Hu d d le sto n a m e n d e d h is a p p lic a tio n

to d isc lo se h is Ma rc h 2 0 0 7 D UI c h a rg e a n d h is p la gia rism in c id e n t fro m In d ia n a

Un iv e rsity

. B a rry Un iv e rsity sa n c tio n e d H u d d l e sto n a n d o rd e re d h im to p e rfo rm

te n h o u rs of c o m m

u n ity se rv ic e ba se d on th e “la c k o f c a nd or” th a t Hu d d le sto n

sh o we d in h is in itia l a

p p lic a tio n

. De sp ite th e sa nc tio n a n d th e a m e n d m e n ts th a t

Hu d dle sto n m a d e to h is a p p lic a tio n to re v e a l so m e of h is h i s t o r y

, H u d d le sto n

n e v e r a m e n d e d h is a

p p lic a tio n to in c lu d e his two o th e r DUI a rre sts fro m 2 0 0 6

.

On h is Ju ly 7, 2 0 1 1 a

p p lic a tio n fo r tr a n s f

e r a d m issio n to Jo h n M a rsh a ll

La w Sc h o ol, d e sp ite a g a in c e rtify in g th a t h e wa s g iv in g “ c o m p le te a n d c o rre c t”

in fo rm a tio n o n h is a

pp lic a tio n

, Hu d d l e s t o n a n swe re d “ n o ” to th e fo llo win g

q u e stio n :

4Ex c lu d in g p a rk in g v io la tio n s, h a v e y o u e v er b e e n d e ta in e d

,

a rre ste d

, fo rm a lly a c c u se d, c ite d

, o r p ro se c u te d fo r th e v io la tio n o f

a n y la w? No te : y o u m

u st d isc lo se e a c h in sta n c e e v e n t h ou g h th e

c h a rg e s m a

y h a v e be e n d ism isse d o r y o u we re a c qu itte d o r a llo we d

to p le a d no lo c on te nd e re o r a n ad j u d i c a tio n w a s w ith h e ld

, o r y o u

we re p a rd o n e d o r a c on v ic tio n wa s re v e rse d , se t a sid e , o r v a c a te d

,

o r th e re c o rd se a le d o r e x p un g e d a n d re ga rd le ss of wh e th e r y o u

h a v e b e e n to ld y o u d o n o t n e e d to d isc lo se su c h a n in sta n c e

.

He a lso fa ile d to d isc lo se h is a c a d e m ic p ro b a tio n fro m Ba rry Un iv e rsity S c h o o l

o f La w, his sa nc tio n fro m Ba rry Un iv e rsity b a se d on h is “ la c k o f c an d o r” in h is

in itia l la w sc h o o l a

p p lic a tio n

, a n d h is p la g ia rism in c id e n t f r o m In d ia n a

Un iv e rsity a fte r a n swe rin g “ n o ” to th e q u e stio n :

Ha v e y ou e ve r b e e n su b

je c t to d ism issa l, su sp e nsio n

, p ro ba tio n

,

wa rn in g

, o r o th e r a c a d e m ic o r d isc ip lin a ry sa n c tio n by a n y c o lle g e

,

u n iv e rsity

, o r p ro fe ssio n a l sc h o o l?

A y e a r a nd a h a lf la te r, a fte r h a v in g a lre a dy b e e n a d m itte d in to Jo h n

Ma rsh a ll La w Sc h o o l a n d n e a rin g g ra d ua tio n

, in Ja n u a ry 2 0 1 3 Hu d d le sto n

a m e n d e d h is Jo h n Ma rsh a ll a p p lic a tio n to d isc lo se a n “o p e n c o n ta in e r” c h arg e

fro m Au g u st 20 0 6

, h is DUI fro m Ma rc h 2 0 0 7

, a n d th e p la g ia rism in c id e n t a t

In d ia n a Un iv e rsity

. H e a m e n d e d h is a p p lic a tio n a ga in in Ma y 2 01 3, d isc lo sin g

fo r th e first tim e th a t t h e A u g u s t 2 0 0 6 op e n c o n ta in e r c h a rg e wa s o rig in a lly a

DUI. Hu d d le sto n th e n a tte m p te d to a m e n d h is a

p p lic a tio n a th ird tim e to in c lu d e

5h is A p ril 2 0 0 6 DUI a rr e st in Ma ry la n d

, bu t th e De a n o f Jo h n M a rsh a ll La w

S c h oo l d id n o t a

pp ro v e th is re q u e st to a m e n d, sta tin g in a Ju n e 1 0 , 2 0 1 3 le tte r

to Hu d dle sto n th a t

th e re m u st c o m e a p o in t wh e n y o u a re h e ld re sp o n sib le fo r n o t

b e in g fu lly fo rth c o m in g . I c a n no t p la c e a n y ty p e o f im p rim a tu r o n

y o u r c o n d u c t o f no t b e in g c o m ple te ly fo rth c o m in g

. I in itia lly g a v e

y o u th e b e n e fit o f th e d o ub t, twic e

. I sim p ly c an n o t d o th a t

a n y m o re

.

No ta b ly

, H u d d le sto n n e v e r a tte m p te d to a m e n d h is a

p p lic a tio n to in c lu d e

h is Au g u st 2 0 1 1 diso rd e rly c o n d u c t a rre st th a t o c c u rre d on ly o n e m o n th a fte r h e

su b m itte d h is a

p p lic a tio n to Jo h n Ma rsh a ll, d e sp ite th e fa c t th a t th e a p p lic a tio n

sta te d th a t Hu d d le sto n wa s re q u ire d to “ p ro m p tly a d v ise th e D ire c to r o f

Ad m issio n s o f a n y c h a n g e in a n y o f th e fa c ts in d ic a te d in [th e ] a pp lic a tio n ” ; n o r

d id h e e v e r a tte m

p t to in c lu d e h is h isto ry o f a c a d e mi c s a n c t io ns fro m Ba rry

Un iv e rsity S c h o o l o f La w.

Hu d dle sto n ’s Ap

plic a tio n fo r Ce rtific a tio n o f Fitn e ss to Pra c tic e L aw

In c on n e c tio n w ith h is Ja n u a ry 2 8

, 2 01 3 a p p lic a tio n fo r c e rtific a tio n o f

fitn e ss, Hu d d le sto n su b m itte d a sig n e d a ffid a v it sta tin g th a t th e a n swe rs in h is

a p p lic a tio n we re tru e a

n d c o rre c t. Ho we ve r, h e a nswe re d “ n o” in re sp o n se to

q u e stio n 1 2 .1 o f th e a

p p lic a tio n , wh ic h sta te d :

6Ha v e y o u e v e r b e e n d ro p p e d

, su s p e n d e d

, w a rn e d

, pla c e d o n

sc h o la stic o r d isc ip lin a ry p ro b a tio n, e x pe lle d or re q u e ste d to re sig n

fro m a n y c o lle ge

, u n iv e rsit y o r l a w sc h o o l o r o th e rwise su b je c te d

to d isc ip lin e b y a

n y s u c h in stitu tio n o r a d v ise d b y a n y su c h

in stitu tio n to disc o n tin u e y ou r stu die s th e re in ?

He d id n o t d isc lo se th a t he h a d b e e n pla c e d on a c a d e m i c p r o b at io n a t Ba rry

Un iv e rsity S c h o o l o f La w, a n d h e d id n o t d isc lo se th a t h e h a d b e e n d ism isse d

fo r two m o n th s fro m Jo h n Ma r s h a l l L a w S c h oo l d u e to h is p o o r a c a d e m ic

p e rfo rm a n c e th e re

.

Hu d d le sto n a lso fa ile d to d isc lo se h is 2 0 0 6 DU I a r re st in Ma ry la n d d e sp ite

b e in g a sk e d to d isc lo se e v e ry in sta n c e in wh ic h h e h a d e v e r b e e n “ c h a rg e d with

o r c ite d fo r d r i v i n g u n d e r th e in flu e n c e o f a lc o h o l o r d ru g s,” a n d h e fa ile d to

d isc lo se h is 2 0 1 1 a rre st f o r d iso rd e rly c on d u c t a fte r a nswe rin g “ no ” to a

q u e stio n re g a rd in g wh e th e r h e h a d “ e v e r b e e n d e ta in e d

, a rre ste d

, fo rm a lly

a c c u se d, c ite d , o r p ro se c u te d fo r th e v io la tio n o f a n y la w.”

In a le tte r m a ile d fro m th e Of f i c e o f B a r Ad m issio n s o n Ma rc h 5

, 2 0 1 3

,

Hu d dle sto n wa s a d v ise d th a t h is a p p lic a t io n fo r c e rtific a tio n of fitn e ss wa s

“ in c o m p le te ,” in th a t he h a d fa ile d to d isc lo se h is d ism issa l fro m Jo h n M a rsh a ll

La w S c ho o l in re sp o n se to q u e stio n 1 2 .1 of th e a p plic a tio n. Th e le tte r a lso sta te d

th a t an a m e n d m e n t sh o u ld b e m a d e to th e a p plic a tio n with in th irty d a y s. Th re e

7m o n th s la te r, o n Ma y 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 , Hu dd le sto n a m e n d e d h is re sp o n se to q u e stio n

1 2 .1 to d isc lo se h is d ism issa l fro m Jo h n Ma rsh a ll, b u t h e still d id n o t d isc lo se

h is a c a de m ic p ro b at i o n fro m Ba rry U n iv e rsity S c h o o l of L a w in o rd e r to

c o m p l e te h is re sp on se to th e q u e stio n

. At th e e n d o f Ma y

, Hu d d le sto n fu r t h e r

a m e n d e d h is a

p p lic a tio n to in c lu d e his 2 0 0 6 D UI a rre st in Ma ry la n d a n d h is

2 0 1 1 a rre st fo r d iso rd e rly c o n d u c t. Ho we v e r, h e n e ve r a m e n d e d h is a p p lic a tio n

to d isc lo se h is a c a d e m ic p ro b a tio n fro m Ba rry Un iv e rsity S c ho ol o f La w.

An a ly sis

Th e fu n c tio n o f th e F itn e ss Bo a rd is to pre ve n t t h o se n o t d e m o n stra tin g

th e re q u isite m ora l c h a ra c te r a n d fitn e ss fro m be in g a llo w e d to b e c om e

la wy e rs. Th is is fo r th e p ro te c t i o n o f t h e pu b lic

, b e c a u se b y a d m ittin g a

p e rso n to th e p ra c tic e o f la w, th e ba r ho ld s th a t p e rso n o u t to th e p u b lic a s

wo rth y o f p a tro n a g e a nd c o n fid e n c e

.

(Cita tio n o m itte d .) In re C a so n

, 2 4 9 Ga

. 80 6

, 8 0 9 (2 9 4 S E 2d 5 2 0 ) (1 9 8 2 ). In th is

re g a rd

, “ [t] h is [C] ou rt' s p rim a ry re sp o n sib ility is to th e p u b lic to se e th a t th ose

wh o a re a d m itte d to p ra c tic e a re e th ic a lly c o g n iz a nt a n d m a tu re in d iv id u a ls wh o

h a v e th e c ha ra c te r to with sta n d th e te m p ta tio n s w h ic h a re p la c e d b e fo re th e m a s

th e y h an d le oth e r p e o p le ' s m o n e y a n d a ff a irs.” (Cita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n

o mi t t e d

. ) I n re L u b o n o v ic

, 2 4 8 Ga

. 2 4 3

, 2 4 4 (1 ) (2 8 2 S E2 d 2 9 8 ) (1 9 8 1 ).

Hu d de lst o n

, a s th e a

p p lic a n t, “ b e a rs th e b u rd e n to e sta b lish th a t h e h a s th e

8re q u isite c h a ra c te r a n d m ora l fitn e ss to p ra c tic e la w” ((F o o tn o te o m itte d .) In re

P .H.M.T., 2 7 2 Ga

. 1 9 (5 2 4 S E 2 d 7 2 9 ) (2 00 0)), an d “ [f] a lse

, m isle a d in g o r

e v a siv e an swe rs to b a r a

p p lic a tio n q u e stio n n a ire s m ay b e g ro u n d s fo r a fin d in g

o f la c k o f re q u isite c h a ra c te r a n d fitn e ss.” (Cita tio n o m itte d

. ) In re Be a sle y

, 2 4 3

Ga

. 1 3 4

, 1 3 7 (4 ) (2 5 2 S E2 d 6 1 5 ) ( 1 9 79 ). “ Ge n e ra lly

, if th e re is a n y e v id e n c e

to su p p o rt th e Bo a rd ' s d e c isio n re g a rd in g th e fitn e ss o f a Ba r a p p lic a nt, it will

b e up h e ld

. ” (F o o tn o te om itte d.) In th e Ma tte r o f Sp e nc e

, 2 7 5 Ga

. 2 0 2

, 20 4 (5 6 3

S E2 d 1 29 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

He re

, e v id e n c e su pp orts th e Bo ard ’s c o n c lu sio n th a t Hu d d le sto n h a s n o t

c a rrie d h is b u rd e n o f e sta b lish in g th a t h e h a s th e re q u isite c ha ra c te r a nd m o ra l

fitn e ss to p ra c tic e la w. In d e e d, in b o th o f h is in itia l la w sc h o o l a pp lic a tio n s a n d

in h is o rig in a l ap p l i c a tio n fo r c e rtific a tio n o f fitn e ss, H u d d le sto n c o n siste n tly

c h o se to c o n c e a l, ra th e r th a n d isc lo se

, h is re le v an t c rim i n a l b a c k g ro u n d a n d

a c a d e m ic histo ry

. He re p e a te d ly g a v e fa lse a nswe rs to d ire c t q u e stio n s a b o u t h is

c rim in a l a nd a c a de m ic b a c k g ro u n d

, a n d , e ve n wh e n dire c tly c o n fro n te d a b o u t

h is la c k o f c a n d o r o n n u m e ro u s o c c a s io n s, he still c ho se to o m it re le v a n t

p o rtio n s o f h is re c o rd th a t sh o u ld h a v e be e n re v e a le d fro m th e b e g in n in g

. Ra th e r

th a n s h o w i n g th a t Hu d d le sto n h a s th e re q u isite c h a ra c te r a nd m o ra l fitn e ss to

9p ra c tic e la w, th e re c o rd re v e a ls th a t Hu d d le sto n

h a s a n in c li n a tio n fo r m isle a d in g a n d e v a siv e b e h a v io r re g a rd in g

in q u irie s in t o his c rim in a l p a st a n d h is [a c a d e m ic b a c k g ro u n d ]

wh ic h

, a t b e st, sh ows a c o m ple t e l a ck o f d ilig e n c e an d ju d g m e n t,

wh ic h g o e s to h i s f

i t n e ss, an d

, a t wo rst, a la c k o f c a n d o r, wh ic h

g o e s to h is c h a ra c te r

. H i s

. . . la c k o f c o m p le te c a n d or d u rin g th e

la w sc h o o l a

pp lic a tio n p ro c e ss a n d th e b a r a pp lic a tio n p ro c e ss

e v id e nc e a la c k o f ju d g me n t a nd a fa ilu re o f in te grity

, c h ara c te r,

p ro fe ssio n a lism

, a n d th e re q u isite m o ra l fitn e ss re q uire d o f

p ro sp e c tiv e m e m

b e rs o f th e Ba

r.

In re P a y n e , 2 8 9 Ga . 7 46 , 7 4 9 (1 ) (7 1 5 S E2 d 1 3 9 ) (2 0 11 ).

Th e Bo a rd pro p e rly d e n ie d Hu dd le sto n ’s a p p lic a tio n fo r c e rtific a tio n o f

fitn e ss to p ra c tic e la w. Id

.

De n ia l o f c e rtific a tio n a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

10