Opinion ID: 1557697
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Procedural pre-requisites

Text: ¶ 10. Rule 25 of the Rules of Discipline for the Mississippi Bar provides the procedure for seeking reinstatement to the practice of law following personal incapacity, and requires the attorney to file a petition and provide any supporting proof of rehabilitation that may be required by the Bar. Procedures for reinstatement of an attorney suspended because of personal incapacity to practice law shall be, insofar as is applicable, the same as the procedure for reinstatement of an attorney following suspension upon disciplinary grounds. The petition for reinstatement shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court, and a copy of said petition shall be served upon the Bar, and it shall be under a duty to investigate the matter, respond to the petition and appear at the hearing. The petitioner shall be required to supply such supporting proof of personal capacity as may be necessary and, in addition, the attorney may be required to submit to examinations by physicians or psychiatrists selected by the Court. If satisfied that the attorney has regained his capacity to practice law, the Court may reinstate the petitioner to the practice and enter judgment accordingly; provided, however, no judgment of reinstatement shall be entered by default or on an ex parte basis, and in all cases the Court shall hear the Bar. A filing fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) to defray the expense of investigating the matter shall be paid the Bar upon the filing of each petition for reinstatement, and any petition for reinstatement subsequent to the initial petition shall not be filed within six (6) months from the date of an adverse determination of any prior petition. Miss. R. Disc. 25 (emphasis added). ¶ 11. The Bar has determined that Doe is in compliance with the requirements for reinstatement from inactive disability status and strongly recommends reinstatement. The medical evidence and testimony serve as overwhelming supporting proof, measured by objective means, that [Doe] possesses the personal capacity to practice law. [Doe] followed the recommendations of the LJAP and sought appropriate treatment. [Doe] has devoted the requisite time and energy necessary to continue her recovery from the traumatic and tragic circumstances that led to her personal incapacity to practice law and has sufficiently shown that she is able to resume practicing law. Therefore, [t]he Mississippi Bar strongly supports [Doe's] Petition for Reinstatement from Inactive Disability status.