Court Opinion

ID: 9391722
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-03 00:07:12.794679+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:44.107109
License: Public Domain

05/02/2023

          IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                    Case Number: PR 06-0544

                                       PR 06-0544                           FILE
                                                                            MAY 0 2 2023
 IN RE PETITION OF MARY CLAIRE TRIMBLE
 FOR REINSTATEMENT TO ACTIVE STATUS                                OR   otaf Supreme
                                                                          Bowen Oreenwood
                                                                                        Cala
                                                                              o of Montana
 IN THE BAR OF MONTANA

      Mary Claire Trimble has petitioned for reinstatement to active status in the State
Bar of Montana. However, there are requirements under the Rules of Admission that must
be satisfied before we can approve placing Trimble on active status.
      Trimble was notified by the State Bar Admissions Administrator on December 3,
2021, that Trimble had completed eligibility requirements for admission by Uniform Bar
Examination score transfer. The letter advised Trimble that "Pie Montana Rules of
Admission require that you present yourself for admission within one year from the date
of this notice." However, Trimble did not thereafter move for admission. Thus, Trimble
has never been admitted to the State Bar, including signing the oath and the roll of
attorneys, and has not been listed as a member of the State Bar. Rule X(B) of the Rules of
Admission provides that, "[i]f an applicant does not appear for admission to the State Bar
of Montana within one year after successfully meeting the requirements for admission, the
applicant's application will be terminated and the applicant may be admitted only after
reapplication as provided in these Rules." It appears Trimble did, for masons unknown,
pay the annual bar membership fee for 2022, despite never being admitted.
      To finish the admissions process, Trimble must petition the Court for admission,
submitting the certification from the Bar Admissions Administrator that Trimble has
satisfied all admissions requirements. Given the expiration of the one-year period in which
to do so, Trimble must also request that the Court waive Rule X(B) by providing an
explanation about why the process was not completed within one year. Therefore,
      IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the petition of Mary Claire Trimble for
reinstatement to active status in the State Bar of Montana is DENIED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE to Trimble's completion of the adrnission process, as provided herein.
      The Clerk is directed to provide copies of this order to the Petitioner and the State
Bar of Montana.
      DATED this         day of May, 2023.

                                                              Chief Justice

                                                                 Justices

                                             2