Case Name: In re Marcus Anthony BRYANT
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2006-02-22
Citations: 922 So. 2d 471
Docket Number: No. 2004-OB-2433
Parties: In re Marcus Anthony BRYANT.
Judges: WEIMER, J., concurs with reasons in part and dissents with reasons in part.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 922
Pages: 471–475

Head Matter:
In re Marcus Anthony BRYANT.
No. 2004-OB-2433.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Feb. 22, 2006.
John K. Pierre, Marc Anthony Bryant for Applicant.
Richard A. Goins, New Orleans, Charles B. Plattsmier, Baton Rouge, for Respondent.

Opinion:
ON APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR.
PER CURIAM
_JjThe Committee on Bar Admissions ("Committee") opposed the application of petitioner, Marcus Anthony Bryant, to sit for the Louisiana Bar Examination based on character and fitness concerns. Specifically, the Committee informed petitioner that his application would be denied in light of his 1995 felony conviction of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, as well as various delinquent credit accounts. We subsequently granted petitioner permission to sit for the bar exam, with the condition that upon his successful completion of the exam, he apply to the court for the appointment of a commissioner to take character and fitness evidence.
Petitioner thereafter successfully passed the essay portion of the bar exam, and upon his application, we appointed a commissioner to take evidence and report to this court whether petitioner possesses the appropriate character and fitness to be admitted to the bar and allowed to practice law in the State of Louisiana. We also authorized the Office of Disciplinary Coun sel to conduct an investigation into petitioner's qualifications to be admitted to the bar.
The commissioner conducted a character and fitness hearing in January 2005, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XVII, § 9(B). At the conclusion of the hearing, the commissioner filed his report with this court, recommending that petitioner be | ^admitted to the practice of law. In his report, the commissioner concluded that petitioner "made a mistake as a high school student, which resulted in a felony conviction, and he got into financial trouble as an undergraduate student struggling to pay his own way through college. It is clear from the evidence that he has been rehabilitated." The Committee objected to the commissioner's recommendation, and oral argument was conducted before this court pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XVII, § 9(B)(3).
After hearing oral argument, reviewing the evidence, and considering the law, we conclude petitioner is eligible to be admitted to the practice of law in Louisiana.
Accordingly, it is ordered that the application for admission be and hereby is granted.
WEIMER, J., concurs with reasons in part and dissents with reasons in part.
VICTORY, J., dissents and assigns reasons.
Retired Judge Philip C. Ciaccio, assigned as Justice pro tempore, sitting for Associate Justice Catherine D. Kimball.
. In re: Bryant, 04-1755 (La.7/16/04), 877 So.2d 990.