Opinion ID: 1948306
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Board's Decision Manifestly Unfair

Text: The regulations implementing the ADA recognize additional time for taking the examination as one of the specific accommodations which should be made for bar applicants with a learning disability. After careful consideration, the Task Force on Disabled Applicants of the National Conference of Bar Examiners concluded that time and one-half to take the MBE was an appropriate accommodation for most applicants with learning disabilities. The Board's decision to deny Rubenstein additional time to take the MBE in 1993 is inconsistent with the recommendations of Rubenstein's expert, the ADA regulations, and the conclusions of the National Conference of Bar Examiners' Task Force on Disabled Applicants. The fact that Rubenstein passed the MBE in 1992 without additional time, notwithstanding her then undiagnosed learning disability, did not constitute a rational basis for denying her additional time to take the MBE in 1993, after her learning disability became known. Although this Court recognizes the exemplary and professional manner in which the Board generally discharges its important responsibilities, the Board's decision to deny Rubenstein any additional time to take the MBE portion of the 1993 Bar Examination was not supported by the record. That decision was not the product of a logical deductive reasoning process and was manifestly unfair to Rubenstein.