Opinion ID: 2763430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: The issue before us is whether Movant has met the burden of proving that he “possesse[s] the moral character to practice law in the State of Maryland.” In re Application of Cramer, 427 Md. 612, 622, 50 A.3d 1066, 1071 (2012) (per curiam) (citations omitted). An applicant must possess good moral character for admission to the Bar. Id. at 622, 50 A.3d at 1071-72. Good moral character is “denoted by those qualities of truth-speaking, of a high sense of honor, of granite discretion, [and] of the strictest observance of fiduciary responsibility.” Id. at 622, 50 A.3d at 1072 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). We determine present moral character by evaluating whether, “viewing the applicant’s character in the period subsequent to his [or her] misconduct, [the applicant] has so convincingly rehabilitated himself [or herself] that it is proper that he [or she] become a member of a profession which must stand free from all suspicion.” In re Application of Stern, 403 Md. 615, 629, 943 A.2d 1247, 1255 (2008) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover, “good moral character includes truthfulness and -7- candor, and absolute candor is a requisite of admission to the” Bar of Maryland. Application of Cramer, 427 Md. at 622, 50 A.3d at 1072 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). “The Board’s conclusions that an applicant does not possess the requisite moral character, and recommendation against admission to the Bar, are entitled to great weight.” Application of Stern, 403 Md. at 629, 943 A.2d at 1255 (citations omitted). “This Court, however, is charged with the responsibility to conduct an independent evaluation of the applicant’s moral character based upon testimony and evidence submitted before the Committee and the Board.” Application of Cramer, 427 Md. at 623, 50 A.3d at 1072 (citations omitted).