Opinion ID: 3163860
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Final Authority

Text: The Montana Supreme Court is the final authority as to whether an applicant may be admitted to practice law in Montana. The Court may, under circumstances it deems sufficient, waive any requirement under these Rules. B. Judicial Immunity; Privileged Communication; Waiver of Privilege All commissions, committees, boards, and their members and personnel, including personnel and employees of the State Bar of Montana, acting on behalf of the Montana Supreme Court under these Rules, have the judicial immunity the Montana Supreme Court would have if performing the same functions. Records, statements of opinion, and other information regarding an applicant for admission to the State Bar of Montana communicated in good faith and without malice by any person or entity to any commission, committee, or board involved in the admissions process, including the person’s or entity’s members, employees, or agents, are privileged and the information communicated is not admissible in any lawsuit. Waiver of the privilege, if any, is governed by Mont. R. Evid. 503. C. Appointment of Bar Admissions Administrator Subject to the approval of the Commission on Character and Fitness and the Montana Board of Bar Examiners, which approval may not be unreasonably withheld, the Executive Director of the State Bar of Montana shall appoint a Bar Admissions Administrator, who is administratively attached to the State Bar of Montana. 22 D. Annual Reports to Supreme Court The Bar Admissions Administrator, the Dean of the Alexander Blewett III School of Law, and the chairs of the Commission on Character and Fitness and Board of Bar Examiners shall each submit an annual report to the Montana Supreme Court on bar admissions, and may submit recommendations for Rule revisions when advisable or necessary. E. Petitions to Clerk of Montana Supreme Court Except for petitions requesting permission to be sworn in before another court, the Montana Supreme Court Clerk’s Office may not accept petitions concerning character and fitness, the Montana Uniform Bar Examination, or admission to the State Bar of Montana, unless the petitioner includes a certificate of service showing that a copy of the petition has been properly served upon the Bar Admissions Administrator. 23 RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COMMISSION ON CHARACTER AND FITNESS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF MONTANA Effective January 1, 2016 SECTION 1: PURPOSE The primary purposes of character and fitness screening before admission to the Bar of Montana are to assure the protection of the public and to safeguard the justice system. An attorney should be one whose record of conduct justifies the trust of clients, adversaries, courts and others with respect to the professional duties owed to them. The public is adequately protected only by a system that evaluates the character and fitness as those elements relate to the practice of law. The public interest requires that the public be secure in its expectation that those who are admitted to the bar are worthy of the trust and confidence clients may reasonably place in their attorney. SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS Except as otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply: (a) “Applicant” as used in these rules refers to any person applying or reapplying for temporary or permanent admission to practice law in Montana, including those applying for admission on motion. This does not include those applying for admission pro hac vice. (b) “Commission” as used in these rules refers to the Commission on Character and Fitness, whose members are appointed by the Montana Supreme Court. (c) “Fitness” as used in these rules is the assessment of mental and emotional health and condition as it affects the competence of a prospective attorney. The purpose of requiring an applicant to possess this fitness is to exclude from the practice of law any person having a mental or emotional illness or condition which would be likely to prevent the person from carrying out duties to clients, courts or the profession. An applicant may be of good moral character, but may be incapacitated from proper discharge of his or her 24 duties as an attorney by such illness or condition. The fitness required is a present fitness, and prior mental or emotional illness or conditions are relevant only so far as they indicate the existence of a present lack of fitness. (d) “Good Moral Character” as used in these rules refers to the qualities of fairness, discreetness, honesty, reasonableness, unquestionable integrity and ability, and willingness to act in accordance with the standards set forth in the Montana Rules of Professional Conduct. (e) “Certification” as used in these rules refers to permission to sit for the Montana bar examination and/or be admitted to the practice of law in Montana. (f) “State Bar of Montana” is the entity administratively serving the Commission, providing staff and prosecutorial support. SECTION 3: GENERAL POWERS (a) Administration of Oaths. Any member of the Commission shall have power to administer oaths in relation to any matter within the functions of the Commission. (b) Admission to the Bar. The Commission shall conditionally or unconditionally certify to the Supreme Court for admission to the Bar such applicants, and only such applicants, who possess the necessary qualifications of good moral character and fitness to practice law, as defined in these rules. (c) Commission and Staff Judicial Immunity. In exercising its functions and powers, the Commission, its members, employees and all personnel through whom the Commission functions, including the State Bar of Montana and mentors mandated by the Commission, shall enjoy such judicial immunities as the Montana Supreme Court would enjoy if performing the same functions. The Commissioners and/or their designees shall not disclose to any third party any information obtained with respect to the character and fitness of any applicant, declarant, or conditionally certified applicant, except: (1) upon written authority of such applicant, declarant or conditionally certified applicant; 25 (2) in response to valid subpoena from a court of competent jurisdiction; (3) to the Montana Supreme Court, the Montana Supreme Court Commission on Practice, Office of Discipline Counsel, the Montana Board of Bar Examiners, or the Montana Lawyers Assistance Program; (4) upon written request from other admitting bar agencies or other bar associations when accompanied by an authorization and release duly executed by the person about whom such information is sought; (5) upon written request from the law school from which the applicant will graduate or has graduated; and (6) to the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (d) Subpoena Power. The Commission chair shall have power to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses or for the production of documentary evidence before the Commission or before anyone authorized to act on behalf of the Commission. The party desiring issuance of such subpoena shall apply therefor with the Commission. (e) Taking of Testimony. Any member of the Commission, and any other person who has the power to administer oaths, shall have power, upon order of the Commission, to take testimony in reference to any matter within the function of the Commission. (f) Third-Party Privilege. Records, statements of opinion and other information regarding an applicant for admission to the bar communicated in good faith and without malice by any entity, including any person, firm or institution, to the Commission or its members, employees or agents are privileged, and no evidence thereof is admissible in any lawsuit. Waiver, if any, of such privilege by voluntary disclosure shall be determined under Mont. R. Evid. 503. (g) Fees and Expenses. Commission members shall be entitled to actual and necessary travel and per diem compensation provided by the State Bar of Montana for its committees. The Commission may engage professional staff through the State Bar of Montana necessary to accomplish its tasks. 26 (h) Other Powers. The Commission shall have such other powers as are set out in the Rules for Admission to the Bar of the State of Montana. The powers set out in these rules regarding subpoenas, discovery and testimony shall be governed where applicable by the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure. SECTION 4: MORAL CHARACTER & FITNESS (a) Every applicant for admission to the Bar of Montana shall be of good moral character and fitness. The applicant shall have the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he or she is possessed of good moral character and fitness. No applicant shall be certified by the Commission to the Bar Admissions Administrator for examination and/or admission to the Bar of Montana unless such applicant first produces satisfactory evidence to the Commission of good moral character and an adequate knowledge of the standards and ideals of the profession and that such applicant is otherwise fit to take the oath and perform the obligations and responsibilities of an attorney. The Commission must be convinced that prior or present conduct of the applicant of which the Commission becomes aware would cause a reasonable person to believe that such applicant would, if admitted to practice law in Montana, be willing and able to act in accordance with the standards set forth in the Montana Rules of Professional Conduct, and would act fairly, discreetly, honestly, reasonably, and with unquestionable integrity in all matters in which he or she acts as an attorney at law. An attorney should be one whose record of conduct justifies the trust of clients, adversaries, courts, and others with respect to the professional duties owed to them. A record manifesting a lack of honesty, trustworthiness, diligence or reliability of an applicant may constitute a basis for denial of admission. (b) Evidence of any of the following will be treated by the Commission as cause for further inquiry before the Commission decides whether the applicant possesses the character and fitness to practice law:

27 3. Making or procuring any false or misleading statements or omissions of relevant information, including any false or misleading statement or omission in the Application for Admission to the Bar of Montana, or in any testimony or sworn statement submitted to the Commission; 4. Misconduct in employment; 5. Acts involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; 6. Abuse of legal process; 7. Neglect of financial responsibilities; 8. Neglect of professional obligations; 9. Violation of an order of the court; 10. Current mental or emotional illness or disorder; 11. Drug or alcohol dependency; 12. Denial of admission to the bar in another jurisdiction on character and fitness grounds; 13. Disciplinary action by a lawyer disciplinary agency or other professional disciplinary agency of any jurisdiction; and 14. Any other conduct which reflects adversely upon the character or fitness of the applicant. (c) In making the determination on character and fitness of each applicant, the following factors shall be considered in assigning weight and significance to prior conduct of the applicant: 1. The applicant’s age at the time of the conduct; 2. The recency of the conduct; 3. The reliability of the information concerning the conduct; 4. The seriousness of the conduct; 5. The factors underlying the conduct; 6. The cumulative effect of the conduct or information; 7. The evidence of rehabilitation; 8. The applicant’s positive social contributions since the conduct; 28 9. The applicant’s candor in the admission process; and 10. The materiality of any omissions or misrepresentations. (d) An applicant may, by written request to the Commission on Character and Fitness, withdraw an Application for Admission at any time. However, in such event the Commission may continue its investigative and adjudicatory functions to conclusion. Failure on the part of the applicant to provide requested information and/or documentation within a reasonable amount of time may result in denial of certification for examination and/or admission. (e) Alternatively, an applicant may, by written request, withdraw with prejudice an application for admission to the Bar of Montana. The Commission shall accept the withdrawal with prejudice and shall immediately dismiss its investigative and adjudicatory functions. An applicant who files a withdrawal with prejudice shall be permanently barred from filing a subsequent application for admission to the Bar of Montana. (f) An applicant who has been disbarred from the practice of law in another jurisdiction shall not be eligible to apply for admission to the Bar of Montana for a period of five (5) years from the date of disbarment. The applicant must also submit written proof of compliance with the terms and conditions of his or her disbarment or proof of good standing from the state in which he or she was disbarred. (g) An applicant who has been suspended from the practice of law in another jurisdiction shall not be eligible to apply for admission to the Bar of Montana until expiration of the period of suspension and until the applicant has submitted written proof of compliance with the terms of the suspension. (h) An applicant who resigned from the practice of law in another jurisdiction in lieu of discipline or in lieu of cooperating with the disciplinary process shall not be eligible to apply for admission to the Bar of Montana for a period of five (5) years from the date of resignation. (i) An applicant who initiated the admissions process in another jurisdiction, but was denied admission or withdrew from the process prior to a final determination on 29 admission in that jurisdiction shall not be eligible to apply for admission to the Bar of Montana until the original jurisdiction has made a final determination on the applicant’s admissibility in that jurisdiction, unless the Commission grants a waiver for good cause shown. (j) An applicant found guilty of a felony is conclusively presumed not to have present good moral character and fitness. The presumption ceases upon completion of the sentence and/or period of probation. (k) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that nondisclosure of a material fact on the application is prima facie evidence of the lack of good character. The presumption shall be the same whether the nondisclosure is discovered prior or subsequent to the applicant’s admission to the bar. The presumption may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence of mistake or of rehabilitation and current good character. SECTION 5: INVESTIGATION, HEARING, & CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION PROCESS (a) Initial Investigation. Every applicant’s moral character and fitness to practice law shall be investigated by the Bar Admissions Administrator and the National Conference of Bar Examiners. 1. Any concerns the Bar Admissions Administrator has will be referred to a subcommittee of two (2) members of the Commission for further investigation. 2. In every such investigation, the Bar Admissions Administrator or the State Bar of Montana may obtain such information as bears upon the character, fitness and general qualifications of the applicant and administer oaths and affirmations, and compel by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents. Any member of the Commission may administer such oaths and affirmations and have all other powers as set forth under Section 3. 30 3. Objection to any applicant may be made by any person by filing with the Commission a sworn statement setting forth the basis for the objection. This statement will be made available to the applicant. 4. The subcommittee may require sworn taped interviews with an applicant to clarify information in the application, to determine eligibility for admission or to facilitate the investigation. (b) Post Investigation. Following its investigation, the Bar Admissions Administrator or the State Bar of Montana shall recommend to the Commission that an applicant be granted certification; granted conditional certification subject to probationary terms as specified by the subcommittee; or denied certification. 1. In the event the subcommittee recommends denial of certification for examination and/or admission, written notice shall be served upon the applicant advising the applicant as to the matters which, if proven, would preclude a favorable finding by the Commission. 2. If such notice is served upon an applicant, the applicant shall file an answer to the notice within twenty (20) days from receipt of the notice. If an applicant fails to file an answer to the notice within such time or within any extension of time allowed by the Commission, the matters shall be deemed admitted and the Commission shall enter findings of fact, and appropriate conclusions of law, which may include a recommendation that the applicant not be admitted to the State Bar of Montana. 3. In the event the subcommittee does not agree upon a recommendation, the full Commission will decide whether to certify, conditionally certify or deny certification for examination and/or admission. Such decision will be by a majority vote of the full Commission. (c) Hearing. In the event the applicant is denied certification, the Commission shall notify the applicant in writing of the specific reasons for denial. The applicant shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of the decision to file a written request for hearing. The hearing panel shall consist of the remaining members of the Commission not 31 participating in the investigation of the applicant. A majority of the hearing panel shall make the final decision. 1. The Commission shall notify the applicant in writing of the date, time, and place of such hearing and of the applicant’s right to be represented by counsel at the hearing, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, to adduce evidence bearing on the aforesaid adverse matters and upon the applicant’s moral character and general fitness to practice law and, for such purposes, to make reasonable use of the Commission’s subpoena powers. 2. If the applicant files a written request for hearing, the applicant must supply a list of witnesses, including addresses and phone numbers, and all supporting documentation including evidence, affidavits, exhibits, etc., he or she feels is necessary to support his or her certification at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing. The applicant must supply the original and nine (9) copies of all such materials to the Commission’s office, 7 West Sixth Avenue, Suite 2B, P.O. Box 577, Helena, MT 59624. 3. The hearings before the Commission shall be open unless the applicant requests that they be private and the panel chair rules that the applicant’s individual privacy requires that the meeting be closed. In making this determination, the panel chair must find that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure. 4. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the applicant is possessed of good moral character and general fitness to practice law. 5. Rules of Evidence need not be observed. The Commission may, in its discretion, take evidence in other than testimonial form, having the right to rely upon records and other materials furnished to the Commission in response to its request for assistance in its inquiries. The Commission may, in its further discretion, determine whether evidence to be taken in testimonial form shall be taken in person at the hearing or upon deposition, 32 but all testimonial evidence shall in either event be taken under oath. A complete stenographic record of the hearing shall be kept, and a transcript may be ordered by the applicant at the applicant’s own expense. 6. The Commission on Character and Fitness shall, when denying admission, issue written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decision concerning the applicant’s character and fitness to practice law. (d) Conditional Certification. 1. The subcommittee or a majority of the remaining members of the full Commission may conditionally certify the applicant for examination and/or admission. The subcommittee and Commission may require specific probationary terms for admission, including, but not limited to, requiring alcohol or drug treatment, requiring medical care, requiring psychological or psychiatric care, requiring professional office practice or management counseling, requiring enrollment with a consumer credit counseling service, requiring practice supervision, requiring notice to the Commission on Character and Fitness if a complaint against the applicant is filed by the Commission on Practice and/or Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and requiring professional audits or reports. The Commission may require persons to supervise the probation and may recommend that cooperation with such supervisors be a probationary term. The Commission may require a specific duration for such probationary terms. 2. If the applicant refuses the subcommittee’s final terms of the conditional admission, the character and fitness process will proceed as if the subcommittee had recommended denial as provided under Section 5(b)(1) of these Rules. (e) Failure to Comply with Stipulation. Upon failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the conditional certification stipulation, the Commission may: 33 1. Request evidence of compliance with the stipulation be submitted to the Commission within ten (10) days following the date of the request. 2. In the event there is continued non-compliance with the stipulation, the Commission may convene a show cause hearing at the request of the applicant applying the provisions of Section 5(c) of these Rules. Prior to completion of the conditional admission period, the Commission may conclude that violation of any probationary terms may be grounds to withdraw certification for admission and examination. After completion of the conditional admission, the Commission may conclude that violation of any probationary terms for admission may be grounds for recommendation by the Commission to the Montana Supreme Court that applicant’s certification to practice law be revoked and that the applicant’s admission to the State Bar of Montana immediately be revoked. SECTION 6: SUPREME COURT REVIEW (a) The findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final decision of the Commission shall be conclusive unless a verified Petition for Review shall be filed by the applicant with the Montana Supreme Court within thirty (30) days following service upon the applicant of the findings, conclusions, and decision in the manner provided by these rules. A copy of the Petition for Review shall also be filed with the Commission. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of said Petition, the Commission shall transmit the entire record to the Clerk of the Supreme Court and a response to the Petition fully advising the Court as to the Commission's reasons for its decision, and admitting or contesting any assertions made by the applicant in said Petition. (b) Any interlocutory order of the Commission shall be subject to review as provided by Rule 17 of the Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure. (c) To the extent practicable, an appeal by an applicant for admission to the practice of law from a final decision of the Commission shall be governed by the rules set forth in the Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure. 34 (d) If the applicant is, was, or has applied to be licensed to practice law in another jurisdiction, the Commission may provide such jurisdiction(s) with a copy of their findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final decision without prior approval from the applicant. SECTION 7: REAPPLICATION Except as otherwise specified within these rules, an applicant denied certification may reapply for admission no earlier than four (4) years from the date of the final decision. “Final decision” refers to the last decision made: by the Supreme Court if the matter has been appealed, or by the Commission if it has not been appealed. The applicant must be able to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, rehabilitation and current fitness to practice law. 35 MONTANA SUPREME COURT BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS’ RULES Rule 101 – Board of Bar Examiners. A. Contact with Board of Bar Examiners. All correspondence or other communications to the members of the Board of Bar Examiners must be directed to the Bar Admissions Administrator, State Bar of Montana, P.O. Box 577, Helena, MT 59624, phone (406) 442-7660. Applicants may not contact Board members directly, unless given prior approval by the Bar Admissions Administrator. B. Public Request. Upon request, the Bar Admissions Administrator or the Administrator’s designee may confirm that an individual has filed an application for admission to the State Bar of Montana. Rule 102 – Bar Examination Content, Certification, and Dates. A. Examination Composition. The Uniform Bar Examination is prepared and coordinated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and comprises the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), two Multistate Performance Test tasks (MPT), and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user jurisdictions and results in a portable score subject to individual jurisdiction admission requirements. Applicants must sit for all components in the same administration to earn a Uniform Bar Examination score. Scores from any one component of the Uniform Bar Examination may not be carried forward to any subsequent examination. An applicant must sit for all components of the Uniform Bar Examination in the same administration to gain admission to the State Bar of Montana. B. Certification. An applicant may not sit for the Montana Uniform Bar Examination unless the applicant has been duly certified or conditionally certified by the Commission on Character and Fitness. C. Dates of Examination. The Uniform Bar Examination is administered over two days. The MBE is given annually on the last Wednesdays of February and July, and the MEE and MPT are given on the preceding Tuesdays. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the February examinations are administered in Helena, Montana, and the July examinations are administered in Missoula, Montana. The examination facility is determined by the Board. D. Montana Law Seminar. All applicants must attend a Montana Law Seminar (MLS) as a prerequisite to admission to the State Bar of Montana. The seminar is 36 held twice annually on the Thursday immediately following the administration of the Uniform Bar Examination or other date directed by the Board. The Board may establish a two-track approach to the MLS with all applicants taking the same course in one session and splitting the other session into litigation and commercial/transactional tracks. Limited portions of the MLS may be by video, recorded, or live via video link. Rule 103 – Examination, Administration, and Grading. A. Attendance at Examination. An applicant may not be admitted to a Uniform Bar Examination session more than one-half hour after the session begins. An applicant who is admitted after an examination session begins may not receive extra time and the examination session will conclude as scheduled. B. MEE and MPT Grading. Each examination paper produced by an applicant on the MEE and MPT is separately graded. Examination papers are graded and credited by applicant number and not by applicant name. C. Score Combining. MBE answer sheets are scanned and centrally scored by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. MEE and MPT answers are graded on a scale of zero to six, with six being the highest qualifying score and zero being the lowest possible score. All scores are converted to the 400 Uniform Bar Examination point scale and combined with the MBE scaled scores. MEE and MPT scores are scaled to the MBE, with the MBE weighted 50%, the MEE 30%, and the MPT 20%. An applicant with a combined scaled score of 270 or higher will be deemed to have passed the Montana Uniform Bar Examination. D. Disruption During Examination. Should a serious disruption occur during any portion of a Uniform Bar Examination session, the Bar Admissions Administrator or proctors must record the incident on the proctor and irregularity report forms and the Board will be notified. If examination time is lost by the general examination population due to the disruption, a corresponding amount of time will be added to the end of the same examination session, if reasonably feasible. E. Individual Emergencies During Examination. If during the course of Uniform Bar Examination administration an applicant has a sudden and unexpected emergency not of the applicant’s making and the Bar Admissions Administrator has approved the applicant’s departure or other inability to complete the examination, the departure will be treated as a deferral and the fees will transfer to 37 the next examination. The Bar Admissions Administrator will record the incident on the proctor and irregularity report forms and the Board will be notified. Rule 104 – Testing Accommodations. A. Application Deadline for Testing Accommodations. An applicant who claims a disability and who seeks an accommodation to sit for the Uniform Bar Examination shall submit a request for the accommodation with supporting evidence by the application filing deadline for the relevant Uniform Bar Examination administration unless the disability occurs between the application filing deadline and the relevant Uniform Bar Examination administration. B. Consideration of Testing Accommodation Requests. Requests for testing accommodation are considered on a case-by-case basis. To qualify for accommodation, the requesting applicant must submit evidence sufficient to satisfy the Board or its designee that: 1. the applicant is otherwise qualified to sit for the Uniform Bar Examination; 2. the applicant suffers from a disability; 3. the disability limits the applicant’s ability to demonstrate, under standard testing conditions, that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities tested on the Uniform Bar Examination; 4. the disability is permanent or long-term; 5. the disability has a current substantial impact on the applicant. A mere submission of a medical diagnosis of impairment is insufficient to qualify the applicant for accommodation; and 6. the requested accommodation must address only a disability the law recognizes and must be tailored to address the disability as it relates to the Uniform Bar Examination testing conditions. The requested accommodation may not give the applicant an advantage over other applicants, but must permit the applicant to perform “on a level playing field” with other applicants. Requests for accommodations will be considered by the Board or its designee based on the information submitted by the applicant and other information as may be reasonably available to the Board. Taking into account the resources available to it, the Board may, but is not required to, seek the assistance of experts on the particular request for accommodation. The Board may require the applicant to provide additional information relating to the claimed physical or mental impairment and prior testing accommodations received, and may require the applicant to submit to examination by a qualified professional designated by the Board in connection with the applicant’s requested testing accommodation. 38 C. Appeal of Board Decision. The Board’s decision on whether to grant the requested accommodation or to offer an alternative accommodation is final. An applicant may petition for relief from the Board’s decision by petitioning the Montana Supreme Court. D. Subsequent Accommodation Requests. Applicants who retake the Uniform Bar Examination shall submit “Form 1: Applicant Request for Test Accommodations” each time they apply for the Uniform Bar Examination, even if they previously requested and were granted accommodations by the Board. It is not necessary to resubmit supporting evidence that was submitted with a previous request if the applicant sat for the Uniform Bar Examination within the preceding three years and: (1) is requesting the same accommodation that was previously granted; and (2) has had no material changes in the physical or mental impairment for which the previous accommodation was granted. New supporting evidence is required if there is any change in the requested accommodation. An update to prior medical evidence assessing the applicant’s current functional limitations and ongoing need for accommodation is required if the nature of the applicant’s impairment changes. The Board may require an update to prior evidence in all cases in which it determines that the prior evidence is insufficient to establish the applicant’s current level of impairment and need for accommodation. E. Definitions. 1. “Accommodation” means an adjustment to or modification of the Uniform Bar Examination testing conditions that addresses the functional limitations related to the applicant’s disability without: a. fundamentally altering the nature of the Uniform Bar Examination or the Board’s ability to determine through examination whether the applicant possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to pass the Uniform Bar Examination; b. imposing an undue burden on the Board; c. compromising the security of the Uniform Bar Examination; or d. compromising the validity of the Uniform Bar Examination. 2. “Disability” means a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which defines a person with a disability as a person with a 39 physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity that is of central importance to daily life. 3. “Qualified professional” means a licensed physician, psychiatrist, or other health care provider who has comprehensive training in the field related to the applicant’s disability. 4. “Substantially limits one or more major life activity” means the physical or mental impairment prevents or severely restricts the applicant from performing or engaging in activities that are of central importance to most persons’ daily lives. Rule 105 – Rules of Conduct. A. Examination Rules of Conduct. An applicant shall abide by all rules and instructions governing the administration of all portions of the Uniform Bar Examination. An applicant MAY NOT: 1. falsify the application or proofs required for admission to the Uniform Bar Examination; 2. utilize any unauthorized notes, books, recordings, electronically retrievable data, or other unauthorized materials while taking the examination. The only items permitted in the examination room are those that have been approved by the Board: (a) computers specifically configured for use of computer-based testing, such as Exam Soft; or (b) blue books issued by the test proctors and approved writing tools. Any item that may provide the applicant with information or access to information other than the applicant’s own knowledge is prohibited, including but not limited to notes, cell phones, backpacks, purses, wallets, cameras, electronic or wireless devices, or timing devices. The Board may prohibit any item not specifically referenced at any time, including at the examination session. Possession of a prohibited item in the examination may be treated as a cheating incident, and examination proctors are authorized to confiscate any unauthorized item. 3. use answers or information from other applicants while taking the examination; 4. provide answers or information to other applicants taking the examination; 40 5. read questions on the examination prior to the announcement to begin the examination; 6. continue to answer any question after the announcement to stop when the session has ended; 7. remove any multiple-choice, machine-scored examination question from the examination room, or otherwise communicate the substance of any of those questions to others, including applicants or persons who are employed by or associated with bar review courses; 8. remove any essay questions, scrap paper, or other materials from the examination room, or otherwise communicate the substance of any of those questions to others, including applicants or persons who are employed by or associated with bar review courses; 9. compromise the security or the integrity of the Uniform Bar Examination; or 10. disregard any instruction given by the Bar Admissions Administrator during the course of the examination or cause generalized disruption of the examination. B. It is the Board’s policy that the Uniform Bar Examination administration and related conduct of a Montana Bar applicant be beyond reproach. Applicants are at all times to maintain a professional attitude toward other applicants, proctors, and other examination personnel. Conduct that constitutes a violation of these Rules, the Rules for Admission, or any rules or instructions provided by examination personnel may result in immediate disqualification to sit for and in ejection from the examination. Cheating or taking any action that disrupts or compromises the security or integrity of the Uniform Bar Examination may result in immediate disqualification to sit for and in ejection from the examination. Rule 106 – Impoundment, Investigation, and Appeal. A. Impoundment of Examination Results. If the Board or the Bar Admissions Administrator has cause to believe an applicant has violated any of the rules of conduct set forth above, the applicant’s bar examination papers and results may be impounded pending investigation by the Board. 41 B. Investigation by the Board of Bar Examiners Subcommittee. 1. The Bar Admissions Administrator shall refer any concern regarding violation of the Rules of Conduct to a subcommittee of two members of the Board for further investigation. In such investigation, the Bar Admissions Administrator or the subcommittee may obtain information that relates to the applicant’s conduct, administer oaths and affirmations, and compel by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents. The subcommittee may require sworn taped interviews with an applicant to clarify information or to facilitate the investigation. 2. If it appears to the subcommittee that there is credible evidence that would establish an applicant’s violation of any rule of conduct, the Bar Admissions Administrator shall serve written notice on the applicant by certified mail stating with particularity the facts upon which the alleged violation is based. 3. The applicant shall file a verified answer with the Bar Admissions Administrator within thirty days of service of the notice. The answer must identify with specificity the alleged violations disputed by the applicant and set forth any evidence that can contradict the charges. The applicant may request a hearing before the Board of Bar Examiners. The applicant shall supply an original and seven copies of all materials to the Board’s office. 4. In the event the applicant does not submit a written answer as provided in Rule 106 B.3., the Board shall deem the facts set forth in the written charges to be established. The charges shall become part of a permanent file of the Commission on Character and Fitness. The applicant may not reapply for admission for at least three years from the date the Board confirms the violation. 5. If an applicant files an answer but does not request a hearing, the Board Chair shall appoint a committee made up of Board members other than the two members assigned to investigate the claimed violation. The committee must consist of no fewer than three and no more than 5 members. If there is an insufficient number of Board members available for appointment, the Chair may appoint a member of the State Bar of Montana in good standing to sit as a member of the committee. The committee shall review the evidence gathered by the Bar Admissions Administrator, the two-member subcommittee, together with the submission received from the applicant, and render a final decision by a majority vote of its members. 42 C. Hearing. 1. If the applicant requests a hearing, the hearing panel must consist of a majority of the members of the Board who did not serve on the subcommittee appointed by the Bar Admissions Administrator. A majority of the hearing panel shall make the final decision. 2. The Board shall notify the applicant in writing of the date, time, and place of the hearing and of the applicant’s right to be represented by counsel at the hearing, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to present evidence. 3. The applicant shall supply a list of witnesses, including addresses and phone numbers, and all supporting documentation including any evidence, affidavits, and exhibits the applicant determines are necessary to support the applicant’s position at least ten days prior to the hearing. The applicant shall supply an original and seven (7) copies of all materials to the Board’s office. 4. The hearings before the Board must be open to the public unless the applicant requests that they be private and the panel chair finds that the demands of the applicant’s individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure and rules that the hearing be closed. 5. The Rules of Evidence need not be observed. The Board may take evidence in other than testimonial form and rely upon records and other materials furnished to the Board in response to its investigation. The Board may determine whether evidence to be taken in testimonial form will be taken in person at the hearing or upon deposition, but in either event all testimonial evidence must be taken under oath. The Board shall maintain a complete record of the hearing. 6. The hearing panel shall determine by a preponderence of the evidence whether the applicant violated the examination rules of conduct. D. Findings and Decision. 1. The Board shall issue a written decision which shall be served upon the applicant by certified mail and reported to the Commission on Character and Fitness. 2. In its decision the Board may take one or more of the following actions: 43
b. transmit a written report of the matter to bar admission authorities in any jurisdiction; c. take such other action as the Board deems appropriate. E. Supreme Court Review. 1. The final decision of the Board is conclusive unless a verified Petition for Review is filed by the applicant with the Montana Supreme Court within thirty days following service of the decision upon the applicant. The record of the hearing before the Board must be transcribed at the applicant’s expense and provided to the Court. A copy of the Petition for Review and the hearing transcript must also be served upon the Board. 2. Within thirty days of receipt of the Petition, the Board shall transmit the entire record to the Clerk of the Supreme Court with a response to the Petition fully advising the Court as to the Board’s reasons for its decision, and admitting or contesting any assertions made by the applicant in the Petition. 44