Court Opinion

ID: 4667993
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-16 00:13:06.232237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:00.160391
License: Public Domain

•                                         03/02/2021

          IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                              Case Number: PR 21-0004

                                       PR 21-0004
                                                                               FILED
IN RE PETITION OF PAULA HOBSON
                                                                               MAR 0 2 2021
MERCER FOR REINSTATEMENT TO ACTIVE                                 ORDE:iiw_
                                                                           6wen Greenwood
                                                                        Clerk of Supreme Court
STATUS IN THE STATE BAR OF MONTANA                                           State of Montana

      Paula Hobson Mercer has petitioned this Court for reinstatement to active status in
the State Bar of Montana. The petition indicates that Mercer voluntarily chose inactive
status on March 31, 2010. It is the Court's practice in such cases, given the amount oftime
since Mercer has been on active status, to require a character and fitness review and the
completion of continuing education. Therefore,
      IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner shall submit to an investigation
conducted by the Commission on Character and Fitness, which, in its discretion, may be a
limited investigation. Petitioner shall comply with the character and fitness process and
timely produce information and documentation as requested by the Commission. The
Commission will investigate Petitioner's character and fitness in accordance with the Rules
of Procedure of the Commission on Character and Fitness. The Commission will advise
the Court whether the Petitioner has been certified, conditionally certified, or denied
certification. If the Commission denies certification, the Commission will issue written
findings offact, conclusions oflaw, and a decision pursuant to Section 5(c)(6) ofthe Rules
of Procedure of the Commission on Character and Fitness. If the Petitioner is certified or
conditionally certified by the Commission on Character and Fitness, the Petitioner shall be
admitted to the active practice of law in Montana upon payment of appropriate dues and
fees and penalties to the State Bar of Montana.
      IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if admitted, within six months of admission to
the active practice of law, Petitioner shall submit to the Board of Continuing Legal
Education, P.O. Box 577, Helena, MT 59624, proof of attendance at thirty hours of
approved Continuing Legal Education to be credited to the time Petitioner was on inactive
status. This may include approved credits previously obtained by Petitioner during the last
two years, if any.
       The Clerk is directed to provide copies of this order to the Petitioner and the State
Bar of Montana.
                       1-•
       DATED this            day of March, 2021.

                                                               Chief Justice

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