Opinion ID: 1185484
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appreciation of American Institutions.

Text: One of the reasons assigned for excluding noncitizens from the practice of law is that the legal profession requires an appreciation of the spirit of American institutions. [11] We are unable to see any reason why an alien in petitioner's position would be lacking in such an appreciation. He has been in the United States for 14 years where he received his undergraduate and legal education. Certainly in that time and with that background it could be assumed petitioner would appreciate the spirit of American institutions as much as one born or naturalized a citizen of the United States. Furthermore, the requirement is a vague one at best. To the extent that it relates to the applicant's understanding of what American institutions are all about, it is amenable to testing by examination. In this way the interests of the public, the courts and the bar will be protected. But to the extent such a requirement relates to an applicant's political views, it is likely that it would offend elemental concepts of due process [12] in that it would amount to a general determination that anyone not a citizen must necessarily hold political views which would disqualify him from being a member of the legal profession. [13] There is no doubt that the automatic determination that every alien must hold unacceptable political views is unwarranted. Thus, the requirement of appreciation for American institutions, is valid only insofar as it relates to one's understanding of the American system, and more particularly the role of law in that system, and this may be determined much better by tests than by looking at the applicant's nationality.