Character and Fitness Issue (NY) Forum

[wilc0phan]

Was hoping to get some advice from you all. Took NY and NJ bar exams this past July. Submitted all my C+F info for New Jersey and am beginning to fill out the application for NY.

I've always disclosed and I know this is the way to go. I got into a fight my first year of college and was suspended for a week. The school has zero record of any infraction and I've always disclosed this. I also had a DUI charge in college that was dismissed and expunged. I too disclosed this.

This past Saturday, I was attending the Notre Dame v. Syracuse game at the Meadowlands. I was sitting with family friends and a priest. The group in front of us caused several people with kids to leave in our section. They were lewd and making comments to a group of underage girls that are too vile to mention here. One of them sparked up a cigarette and once the gentlemen I was sitting next to asked him to stop, he because verbally abusive. So, I hit the kid in the face. I now have a court date in NJ for an assault charge. I plan on getting affidavits from the priest and family friend I was sitting next to to attest to these facts.

I'm obviously going to disclose this to the bar examiners in my C+F application.

Please tell me, am I going to have any problems regarding the foregoing despite my full disclosure?

[LAWYER2]

Was hoping to get some advice from you all. Took NY and NJ bar exams this past July. Submitted all my C+F info for New Jersey and am beginning to fill out the application for NY.

I've always disclosed and I know this is the way to go. I got into a fight my first year of college and was suspended for a week. The school has zero record of any infraction and I've always disclosed this. I also had a DUI charge in college that was dismissed and expunged. I too disclosed this.

This past Saturday, I was attending the Notre Dame v. Syracuse game at the Meadowlands. I was sitting with family friends and a priest. The group in front of us caused several people with kids to leave in our section. They were lewd and making comments to a group of underage girls that are too vile to mention here. One of them sparked up a cigarette and once the gentlemen I was sitting next to asked him to stop, he because verbally abusive. So, I hit the kid in the face. I now have a court date in NJ for an assault charge. I plan on getting affidavits from the priest and family friend I was sitting next to to attest to these facts.

I'm obviously going to disclose this to the bar examiners in my C+F application.

Please tell me, am I going to have any problems regarding the foregoing despite my full disclosure?

No one can say for sure, but personally I don't' think so. A fight at a game does not amount to mortal turpitude. Just my .02 of course. Good luck

[DavidConeSplitter]

NO WAY!

Dude, is that you on Deadspin?

[wilc0phan]

NO WAY!

Dude, is that you on Deadspin?

Nah.

[InTheWideLand I Walk]

...
So, I hit the kid in the face.
...

HAHAHA! sorry.....

anyway, It seems you are dead on because the key with that application is just disclosing things that people would feel ashamed at telling other people so they know you are honest. After I submitted the application I waited 8 months, and was sent a follow up questionnaire about some particular incident. I disclosed embarrassing things about myself on it and some they didn't even ask for that were unrelated to the incident. A week later I got the notice that I passed.

[dallaseagle]

Was hoping to get some advice from you all. Took NY and NJ bar exams this past July. Submitted all my C+F info for New Jersey and am beginning to fill out the application for NY.

I've always disclosed and I know this is the way to go. I got into a fight my first year of college and was suspended for a week. The school has zero record of any infraction and I've always disclosed this. I also had a DUI charge in college that was dismissed and expunged. I too disclosed this.

This past Saturday, I was attending the Notre Dame v. Syracuse game at the Meadowlands. I was sitting with family friends and a priest. The group in front of us caused several people with kids to leave in our section. They were lewd and making comments to a group of underage girls that are too vile to mention here. One of them sparked up a cigarette and once the gentlemen I was sitting next to asked him to stop, he because verbally abusive. So, I hit the kid in the face. I now have a court date in NJ for an assault charge. I plan on getting affidavits from the priest and family friend I was sitting next to to attest to these facts.

I'm obviously going to disclose this to the bar examiners in my C+F application.

Please tell me, am I going to have any problems regarding the foregoing despite my full disclosure?

Yes, you're going to have a problem; you started a fight and got physically violent when up to that point it was merely verbal. You should have let the system handle it--the system of which you ostensibly want to become a part.

[MarkfromWI]

Just for my own piece of mind and faith in humanity, I sure hope you don't have any issues. If all went down the way you said it did, the guy had it coming to him. I'm personally glad to see karma shake out like that. If only I was your bar examiner...

[AReasonableMan]

Was hoping to get some advice from you all. Took NY and NJ bar exams this past July. Submitted all my C+F info for New Jersey and am beginning to fill out the application for NY.

I've always disclosed and I know this is the way to go. I got into a fight my first year of college and was suspended for a week. The school has zero record of any infraction and I've always disclosed this. I also had a DUI charge in college that was dismissed and expunged. I too disclosed this.

This past Saturday, I was attending the Notre Dame v. Syracuse game at the Meadowlands. I was sitting with family friends and a priest. The group in front of us caused several people with kids to leave in our section. They were lewd and making comments to a group of underage girls that are too vile to mention here. One of them sparked up a cigarette and once the gentlemen I was sitting next to asked him to stop, he because verbally abusive. So, I hit the kid in the face. I now have a court date in NJ for an assault charge. I plan on getting affidavits from the priest and family friend I was sitting next to to attest to these facts.

I'm obviously going to disclose this to the bar examiners in my C+F application.

Please tell me, am I going to have any problems regarding the foregoing despite my full disclosure?

Yes, you're going to have a problem; you started a fight and got physically violent when up to that point it was merely verbal. You should have let the system handle it--the system of which you ostensibly want to become a part.

I agree with this, but not that it indicates moral turpitude. The kid being an asshole to other people doesn't have much to do with you punching him in the face. This easily could have escalated from there. I don't think one punch is enough to jeopardize your career, but my presumption would be that you might have been drinking too much. I would also advise you to undergo anger management. I'm sure a kid blowing smoke in an old man's face won't be the greatest injustice you see in your lifetime.