Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Litigation Blogs -> How Appealing

Litigation

: How Appealing

All the Michigan state court system is asking for is a little respect, just a little bit

All the Michigan state court system is asking for is a little respect, just a little bit: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit today affirmed the dismissal of the federal civil rights claims of a man who sued the State Bar of Michigan in connection with its denial of his application for a license to practice law.

According to today's ruling, during the man's interview with members of the state bar's Character and Fitness Committee, the man "stated that he had little respect for the Michigan state court system, and he expressed the view that the federal courts are the 'guardians of the constitution' and that the Michigan state court system fails adequately to protect individuals' constitutional rights."

As a result of that interview, the Character and Fitness Committee found that the applicant failed to display "the requisite good character and fitness to be recommended to the practice of law in this state." In particular, the committee's report stated, ""We are concerned about providing a law license to someone who, even before he has handled his first case as a member of the bar, has effectively written off such a huge component of the justice system."

Today's ruling also notes that "In 2003, [the applicant] also began operating a registered website called 'StateBarWatch' on which he actively criticized the SBM and BLE for alleged dishonesty within the Michigan attorney licensing system."

It is too early to tell whether today's ruling will cause the plaintiff to dislike the federal judicial system almost as much as he apparently dislikes Michigan's state court system.

Full post as published by How Appealing on June 03, 2008 (boomark / email).