Opinion ID: 2315983
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: The Law Court has undoubted jurisdiction to review the single justice's decision to admit an application to the bar. The Supreme Judicial Court has inherent authority to admit attorneys to the bar that cannot be limited by legislation. See In re Feingold, 296 A.2d 492, 496 (Me.1972). In promulgating rules to implement this power, the court has honored legislation requiring the creation of a Board of Bar Examiners and generally following the legislative scheme for bar admission. The court has also provided that applications for admission be heard and decided by a single justice. See M.Bar R. 1(b); In re Feingold, 296 A.2d at 496; 4 M.R.S.A. §§ 801 to 805-A (1989). Rule 1(c) of the Maine Bar Rules allows review of the action of a single justice in exercising a power of the Supreme Judicial Court: Except where powers are expressly given to the full Court, or the context indicates clearly that the full Court alone is to have the power, the powers of the Court with respect to these rules may be exercised by a single justice of the Court, subject to appropriate review by the Law Court. (Emphasis added) It is entirely appropriate for the Law Court to review a single justice's order for bar admission, pursuant to the authority reserved by the Supreme Judicial Court in Rule 1(c). Moreover, review of the single justice's decision for errors of law falls within the legislature's grant of jurisdiction to the Law Court, 4 M.R.S.A. § 57 (1989): The following cases only come before the court as a court of law: Cases on appeal from the Superior Court or a single Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court [and] cases presenting a question of law.... See also In re Feingold, 296 A.2d at 496 (in absence of judicial rule, denial of admission by single justice reviewable by full court as a question of law or decision of single justice under 4 M.R.S.A. § 57). We conclude also that the Board has standing to appeal the single justice's order of admission. Undoubtedly, in any case in which the Board of Bar Examiners refuses to issue the certificate of qualification under 4 M.R.S.A. § 802 then the Board itself should be made a party defendant and would defend its action through the Attorney General or privately retained counsel. [1] In re Feingold, 296 A.2d at 498. It follows that the Board can challenge a single justice's contrary finding of good moral character. The Board is the body responsible for assisting the court and the State of Maine in determining the qualification of any applicant for admission to the bar. It is entitled, either as appellee or appellant, to participate in any proceeding challenging its actions by reason of its interest in defending its policies as reflected in [those] actions. Bureau of Taxation v. Town of Washburn, 490 A.2d 1182, 1184 (Me.1985).