Opinion ID: 1185484
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Oath to Support Constitution.

Text: Another reason given for exclusion of aliens from legal practice is that the alien cannot take the necessary oath to support the Constitution of the United States. [14] Of course, the alien can, as a matter of fact, take the necessary oath. But it is argued that he cannot do so honestly because of a possible conflict with his own national loyalty. An alien just visiting or casually in this country for a very temporary period of time may not have the intention to renounce his loyalty to the country of his origin and adopt the solemn obligation of supporting our form of constitutional government. But it is most likely that this is not true of an alien who is lawfully in this country and has the established intent of becoming a citizen of the United States as soon as he is able to qualify under federal law. Such a person is under the same duty to pay taxes, [15] to serve in the Armed Forces, [16] to live within our system of law  including the supreme law of the land  as is a citizen. Indeed, an alien serving in the Armed Forces of the United States must take an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. [17] If an alien is lawfully in the United States, and sincerely intends to become a citizen of this country and is doing whatever is necessary under federal law to accomplish that objective, it would seem not unreasonable for the bar association to devise procedures which would permit an applicant to demonstrate the fact of his lawful residence and the requisite intention. [18] Once that has been established, we can see no reason why an applicant for the Alaska bar, who meets all other qualifications as petitioner does, may not honestly and without regard to the laws of his place of origin take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. If he really is sincere in his intent to become a citizen of the United States, an oath to support the Constitution is meaningful and is not inconsistent in any way with his status, under federal law, as one who has not yet been granted the status of a citizen. From the record, petitioner is in the position of one who can honestly, sincerely and with every good intention subscribe to the necessary oath to support the Constitution of our country.