{"id":3106,"date":"2023-02-15T14:32:52","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T20:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mitchellhamline.edu\/sex-offense-litigation-policy\/?p=3106"},"modified":"2023-02-17T10:47:09","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T16:47:09","slug":"matter-of-stevens-wash-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mitchellhamline.edu\/sex-offense-litigation-policy\/2023\/02\/15\/matter-of-stevens-wash-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Matter of Stevens (Wash. 2022)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Matter of Stevens, No. 201,997-8 (Wash. 2022)<\/h2>\n

Nature of Case: <\/strong> This case involves an applicant seeking admission to the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) to practice law. \u00a0As a teenager and young adult, the applicant had been convicted of crimes that subjected him to sex offense registration requirements. \u00a0Due to his criminal history, the applicant was previously denied admission to the Arizona State Bar Association based on character and fitness concerns.<\/p>\n

In 2018, the Washington Supreme Court held that “for purposes of bar admission, a moral character inquiry is determined on an individualized basis,” and that “there is no categorical exclusion of an applicant who has a criminal or substance abuse history.”\u00a0 See In re Bar Application of Simmons<\/em>, 190 Wash.2d 374, 378, 414 P.3d 1111 (2018). \u00a0Following that ruling, the applicant in this case sought admission to the WSBA.<\/p>\n

Holding: <\/strong> The Washington Supreme Court granted applicant\u2019s application for admission to the WSBA after considering the applicant\u2019s \u201cpast wrongful behavior\u201d alongside \u201cthe steps he has taken to improve himself and hold himself accountable\u201d concluding that applicant had adequately established his good moral character and fitness to practice law.\u00a0 In so ruling, the Court stated,\u00a0“like all of us, [the applicant] is more than the sum of the worst moments of his life.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Case Documents<\/em><\/h2>\n