News
Events
Rule Changes
Kentucky
Kentucky has updated SCR 2.017 to state that applicants to the bar are no longer required to take the online Kentucky Law Component. All applicants must successfully complete the New Lawyer Program (SCR 3.640) upon admission. The online Kentucky Law Component was previously required of those admitted via 1) the Kentucky UBE, 2) transferred UBE score, 3) military spouse provisional admission, or 4) limited admission for attorneys participating in a public defender program, legal services program, or office of a Commonwealth or county attorney.
Michigan
The Michigan Board of Law Examiners has set a UBE passing score of 268, and it will begin accepting UBE score transfers on January 15, 2023. Michigan’s first UBE administration will be in February 2023.
Nebraska
On September 7, 2022, the Nebraska Supreme Court amended the provision related to Class 1-B applicants in Rule § 3-119, which pertains to application for admission by attorney class and motion applicants. The amended provision now states that Class 1-B applicants must have “previously obtained a passing score on a bar examination,” replacing prior language stating that applicants must have passed a UBE or equivalent non-UBE exam.
New Mexico
The Supreme Court of New Mexico has adopted new Rule 15-301.3 NMRA to permit the clerk of the Supreme Court to issue a limited license to practice law to an attorney who is the spouse of an active-duty service member stationed in New Mexico and who resides or will reside in New Mexico. Among other qualifications, military spouse attorney applicants must hold an active license in another US jurisdiction, be in good standing in all jurisdictions where they are admitted to practice, and certify that they have read and are familiar with the laws and statutes governing the conduct of attorneys, including the succession planning requirement of Rule 16-119 NMRA and the trust accounting requirements of Rule 17-204 NMRA.
The Supreme Court has also approved amendments to Rule 15-103 NMRA (Qualifications). Under the amended rule, license to practice law shall not be denied based solely on an applicant’s citizenship or immigration status. In addition, applicants seeking admission to practice law in New Mexico must certify that they have read and are familiar with the laws and statutes governing the conduct of attorneys, as stated above.
Puerto Rico
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico has changed the passing score on the general bar examination to 569 out of 1,000 points from 596.
People
Arizona
Mariann Nystrom is Arizona’s new Attorney Admissions Manager, replacing Lisa Parsons, who is returning to courtroom practice. Mariann worked as a senior investigator in Arizona’s admissions unit for about six years before this promotion. Before that, Mariann practiced in estate planning and business formation and worked for Thomas Reuters.
California
Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Guerrero was confirmed on August 26, 2022, to serve as California’s next Chief Justice when current Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s term of office ends on January 2, 2023. Guerrero will now go up for election in November. Guerrero was the first Latina to serve on the state’s high court and would be the first Latina Chief Justice if elected.
Georgia
Michael P. Boggs was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia on July 18, 2022. Charles J. Bethel will serve as a new liaison Justice alongside the current liaison Justice, Sarah Hawkins Warren.
Hawaii
Former Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald T. Y. Moon passed away on July 5, 2022. Justice Moon served as Chief Justice for more than 17 years before retiring in 2010. He was the first Korean American to become Chief Justice of a state supreme court. Before that, he served as a circuit court judge and then an associate justice of the supreme court, for a total of 28 years of service on the bench.
Illinois
Stephanie Shipp is the new Deputy Director of Bar Examinations of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar, replacing Larie McGill, who retired in April 2022.
Maine
The Maine Board of Bar Examiners has a new address: 135 Maine St., Ste. A, Box 305, Brunswick, ME 04011.
Massachusetts
Kandace Kukas took on the role of Executive Director of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners on July 25, 2022, replacing Marilyn J. Wellington, who is now Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for NCBE.
NCBE News
Hon. Arlene Y. Coleman, member of the NCBE Board of Trustees, was appointed Circuit Judge of Cook County, at Large, effective September 16, 2022. Coleman will fill the vacancy created by Hon. Marcia Mara’s retirement.
C. Beth Hill is NCBE’s new Director of Emerging Bar Exam Programs. Hill most recently held the position of Director of Test Development, Operations, and Security and has been at NCBE since 2012, when she started as MBE Program Director.
Ingrid L. Jorgenson is NCBE’s new Director of Test Operations. Jorgenson has been at NCBE since 2013, most recently as Associate Director of Test Production.
A. Benjamin Spencer, Dean and Trustee Professor of William & Mary Law School and chair of NCBE’s MBE Civil Procedure Drafting Committee, was recently honored with the William R. Rakes Leadership in Education Award from the Virginia State Bar Section on the Education of Lawyers in Virginia. Spencer received the award at a reception on June 17 during the Virginia State Bar’s annual conference in Virginia Beach.
