Title: IN RE APPLICATION OF GREEN FOR ADMISSION TO OKLA. BAR ASSOC.
Citation: 2016 OK 98
Docket Number: 
State: Oklahoma
Issuer: Oklahoma Supreme Court
Date: September 20, 2016

IN RE APPLICATION OF GREEN FOR ADMISSION TO OKLA. BAR ASSOC. Annotate this Case IN RE APPLICATION OF GREEN FOR ADMISSION TO OKLA. BAR ASSOC. 2016 OK 98 Case Number: SCBD-6327 Decided: 09/20/2016 THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL. IN RE: THE APPLICATION OF JAMES M. GREEN FOR ADMISSION TO THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION, Appellant, v. OKLAHOMA BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS, Appellee. BAR ADMISSION PROCEEDING ¶0 The appellant, Major James M . Green (Major Green) appeals from a determination of the appellee, Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners, (the Board) that he does not meet the reciprocity requirements to be admitted to the practice of law in Oklahoma without taking the Oklahoma Bar Examination. We hold that he is entitled to reciprocity. Accordingly, the attorney is admitted to practice law in Oklahoma pursuant to Rule 2 of the Rules Governing Bar Admission. 5 O.S. Supp. 2015 ch. 1 app. 5. ATTORNEY ADMITTED. James M. Green, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Pro Se. Patrick H. Kernan, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Appellee. KAUGER, J.: ¶1 The only issue presented is whether a lawyer who has been practicing law in the military since 2007 may be admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association without examination pursuant to Rule 2 of the Oklahoma Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law, 5 O.S. Supp. 2015 ch. 1, app. 5.1 We hold that the applicant meets the qualifications for admission without examination and is hereby admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association, effective immediately. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY ¶2 The facts are agreed by the parties. The appellant, Major James M. Green (Major Green) grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and graduated from high school there in 1991. He then served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps for nine years. After an honorable discharge, he obtained an undergraduate degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooly Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Major Green was admitted to the Florida Bar Association in May of 2007. Florida is not a reciprocal state with Oklahoma. ¶3 In June of 2007, Major Green returned to the Marines as an attorney and on March 21, 2008, he was designated a Judge Advocate after having attended the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. Since that time, he has served in a variety of roles. He is currently Regional Victims' Legal Counsel for the National Capitol Region, which includes the eastern United States and Europe. ¶4 Major Green has been stationed at the United States Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia since approximately the beginning of 2001. Most of his work occurs at his office provided by the military at Quantico. In January of 2014, he became a member of the Virginia Bar after taking the Virginia bar examination. [Virginia has reciprocity with Oklahoma.] Seeking to retire from the military and return to Muskogee to practice law and be near his family, Major Green filed an application for admission on motion under Rule 2 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in the State of Oklahoma, 5 O.S. Supp. 2015 ch.1, app. 5.2 ¶5 On March 13, 2015, the Board denied his application because he had not engaged in the practice of law in a reciprocal state for five of seven years immediately preceding his application. There were no other aspects of his application which were disputed, ie. good moral character, due respect for the law, and fitness to practice law. Major Green then asked for a hearing under Rule 11, 5 O.S. Supp. 2015 ch.1, app. 5.3 On September 4, 2015, Major Green appeared pro se before the Board for a hearing regarding his eligibility for admission under Rule 2 of the Rules Governing Admission, 5 O.S. Supp. 2015 ch.1, app. 5. On October 19, 2015, the Board denied his application. Apparently, a majority of the nine board members voted to deny Major Green's application but no vote was recorded. ¶6 The Board agreed that he had engaged in the practice of law for five of the last seven years, but determined that serving and practicing law in the military was not a "reciprocal state" under Rule 2. The Board commended Major Green for his service, but offered no sympathy and advised him to take the Oklahoma Bar Exam. The Board also admitted that our rules make it difficult for any military lawyer to ever qualify for reciprocity, but concluded that was no justification to grant admission.4 UNDER THE FACTS OF THIS CAUSE, THE APPELLANT IS ENTITLED TO RECIPROCITY. ¶7 Green argues that the military "jurisdiction" is a reciprocal jurisdiction for purposes of Rule 2. He contends that: 1) the language in Rule 2 refers to both reciprocal jurisdictions and reciprocal states; 2) military courts grant Oklahoma lawyers and judges the right of admission on motion without the requirement of an exam and their exam requirements for admission without examination are similar to Oklahoma; and 3) alternatively, if he does not qualify for admission, the Rule should be amended to clarify that no military attorney who has practiced law on active duty can be admitted on motion to the Oklahoma Bar as military service members are ordered to move every four years. ¶8 The Board agrees that practicing law as an attorney for the military since at least 2008 satisfies the requirement that he has been engaged in the practice of law for five of the last seven years.5 Nevertheless, because: 1) the right to practice law in the military depends upon his admission to a state bar, he must be licensed and practicing in a reciprocal state; and 2) neither the military nor the federal government are primary bar licensing authorities, so admission to practice remains dependent upon prior admission to a state bar. The Board also acknowledges that many lawyers who practice in the federal and military arena are required to move frequently to work and serve their country, and while it may be unfair, Major Green overstates the burden imposed on such military lawyers. According to the Board, those lawyers must practice within the borders of a reciprocal state. Major Green had clients in Russia. If he had been a member of the Virginia Bar for five years, would he also be required to subtract from his five years any time he spent outside of the borders of Virginia? ¶9 The responsibility for the due administration of justice and regulation and control of the Bar is vested in the Supreme Court,6 including the right to define and regulate its practice.7 In exercising our inherent power to organize, regulate and control the Oklahoma Bar Association, we established the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Oklahoma, 5 O.S. Supp. 2011 ch.1, app. 5. This Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing of attorneys.8 ¶10 Rule 2 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Oklahoma concerns admission to the Bar on motion, without examination. The current version of Rule 2, Section 1, provides in pertinent part that: Persons who are graduates of an American Bar Association approved law school, have been lawfully admitted to practice and are in good standing on active status in a reciprocal state, and have engaged in the actual and continuous practice of law in a reciprocal state for at least five of the seven years immediately preceding application for admission under this Rule. The years of practice earned in multiple reciprocal jurisdictions cannot be combined. (Emphasis supplied). The Rule does refer to reciprocal states, and reciprocal jurisdictions. In Section 4, the terms "former jurisdiction," "nonreciprocal jurisdiction," and "reciprocal jurisdiction" are also used. It provides: Section 4. It is the purpose of this rule to grant reciprocity to qualified judges and lawyers from other jurisdictions and to secure for Oklahoma judges and lawyers like privileges. If the former jurisdiction of the applicant does not grant to Oklahoma judges and lawyers the right of admission on motion, then this Rule shall not apply and the applicant must, before being admitted to practice in Oklahoma, comply with the provisions of Rule Four. If the former jurisdiction of the applicant permits the admission of Oklahoma judges and lawyers upon motion but the Rules are more stringent and exacting and contain other limitations, restrictions or conditions of admission and the fees required to be paid are higher, the admission of applicant shall be governed by the same Rules and shall pay the same fees which would apply to an applicant from Oklahoma seeking admission to the bar in the applicant's former jurisdiction. If the applicant's actual and continuous practice for the past five of seven years is from a nonreciprocal jurisdiction that does not grant Oklahoma judges and lawyers the right of admission on motion, the professional experience from the former jurisdiction will not be considered, and any professional experience from a nonreciprocal jurisdiction cannot be combined with the professional experience from a reciprocal jurisdiction to meet the requisite five of seven years of actual and continuous practice. (Emphasis supplied). ¶11 Furthermore, under section 1, the Rule defines the "practice of law" without referring to a state at all, but rather to reciprocal jurisdictions. The Rule specifically honors the practice as an attorney for the federal, state, local government (including a territory, district, commonwealth or possession of the United States), branch of the armed services, or sovereign Indian nation. It states: For the purposes of this section, "practice of law" shall mean: . . .(c) Practice as an attorney for the federal, state, local government (including a territory, district, commonwealth or possession of the United States), branch of the armed services, or sovereign Indian nation with the same primary duties as described in Section I (b) above; (d) Employment as a judge, magistrate, referee, or similar official for the federal, state or local government (including a territory, district, commonwealth or possession of the United States); provided that such employment is available only to attorneys; (e) Full time employment as a teacher of law at a law school approved by the American Bar Association; or (f)Any combination of the above. . . . (Emphasis added.) None of these examples are "reciprocal states, but rather "jurisdictions." The inconsistent use of these terms have apparently led to confusion. We agree with Major Green, that the Rule should not have used the words "reciprocal state," but rather "reciprocal jurisdiction." ¶12 Without this subtle clarification the Rule would lead to an absurd result. For example, if Major Green had been sent to Oklahoma by the military, and if his spouse were also a lawyer who accompanied him here, under Rule 2, the spouse would qualify for admittance to practice law in Oklahoma without an examination and without having practiced or been licensed in any reciprocal state.9 However, Major Green, the person who is actually sacrificing his life, and civilian career to serve, and defend this Country and the State of Oklahoma would not be allowed to practice law in Oklahoma under the Board's interpretation of Rule 2. Recently, as reported by the Military Spouse J.D. Network, a military spouse attorney who was licensed in Puerto Rico (which is not a "state") was sworn into the Oklahoma Bar Association without having to take the bar exam under the military spouse provisions, which the Court, including myself, agreed with and approved.10 She was not from a "state" but rather a "jurisdiction" which is part of the United States of America. If this is good enough for the United States of America, it is good enough for Oklahoma. The Court could not and would not endorse such an absurd consequence which could preclude Major Green from being licensed in Oklahoma --- especially for someone serving in the armed services. 1) Major Green cannot appear in the Courts of the State of Oklahoma, but his spouse could. 2) Major Green cannot do pro bono work in the State of Oklahoma, but his spouse could. 3) Major Green cannot do anything connected to the law in the State of Oklahoma without being engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, but by being married to the Major, his spouse could. ¶13 Major Green's nearly 10 years of practicing law in the United States military qualifies as having worked in a reciprocal jurisdiction under Rule 2. The military provides reciprocity to Oklahoma lawyers under similar circumstances for admission. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 827(b), Oklahoma attorneys qualify for military appointment if: 1) they graduated from an accredited law school or is a member of the highest court of the state; and 2) they are certified as competent to perform the duties as a military attorney.11 No time requirement of five years is imposed. Major Green should be admitted under Rule 2. CONCLUSION ¶14 Major Green has with his service, represented the United States of America. Whether it is called a jurisdiction or a country, it is a conglomerate of all the states. Some of the purposes of letting military spouses practice law where their spouse is deployed is to eliminate the need for an additional bar examination, relive a significant portion of stressors for family, expedite job search efforts, and allow them to contribute to their families. Major Green has passed the bar examination in two of those states. Surely, that is more than sufficient. Major Green stated at the hearing that: ... I think it's you [who] are prejudicing the military, those of us that go and fight for our country, and I have huge sacrifices I made being a military member, and to not be able to apply that service as my tour of duty comes to an end, I think that is unfair. I don't think that the drafters of the rules contemplated that. . . I think we would have a different case if it was some sort of some different law that we practiced in the military. . . .It is different from military justice, but it's - it's the same type of statutes, same types of crime, burglary, rape, robberies, larceny. It's the same stuff. It's just under a different code. . . . The rule is about being fair. About being fair to jurisdictions that are fair with Oklahoma. And it would be unfair to not provide reciprocity to service members. . . We agree with Major Green. He has met the requirements for Rule 2 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Oklahoma12 and should be admitted instanter. ATTORNEY ADMITTED. REIF, C.J., COMBS, V.C.J., KAUGER, WINCHESTER, EDMONDSON, TAYLOR, JJ., concur. WATT (by separate writing), COLBERT, GURICH, JJ., dissent. FOOT