{ "id": 5403568, "name": "Terry Ronald SMITH v. STATE BOARD of LAW EXAMINERS", "name_abbreviation": "Smith v. State Board of Law Examiners", "decision_date": "2004-06-10", "docket_number": "03-1308", "first_page": "628", "last_page": "635", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "357 Ark. 628" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "187 S.W.3d 842" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "352 N.W.2d 752", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10673158 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "755" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nw2d/352/0752-01" ] }, { "cite": "261 U.S. 165", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6138608 ], "year": 1923, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/261/0165-01" ] }, { "cite": "353 U.S. 232", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6160382 ], "year": 1957, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/353/0232-01" ] }, { "cite": "342 Ark. 566", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1342445 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/342/0566-01" ] }, { "cite": "353 Ark. 641", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1155473 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/353/0641-01" ] }, { "cite": "282 Ark. 578", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1740890 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/282/0578-01" ] }, { "cite": "305 Ark. 196", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1916678 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/305/0196-01" ] }, { "cite": "310 Ark. 435", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1898896 ], "weight": 10, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "441" }, { "page": "443" }, { "page": "444" }, { "page": "445" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/310/0435-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 639, "char_count": 13154, "ocr_confidence": 0.77, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.380125665320789e-08, "percentile": 0.3937449635094556 }, "sha256": "9960e3b9222388f05af59fb132a69cbffdeee00814ae312f85fbe68647400f1e", "simhash": "1:0156b196c815112e", "word_count": 2100 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:35:50.829950+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Terry Ronald SMITH v. STATE BOARD of LAW EXAMINERS" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Betty C. Dickey, Chief Justice.\nTerry Smith appeals the ustice. of Law Examiners denying his request for admission to the Bar of Arkansas. He raises two points on appeal: (1) he has proven his rehabilitation and his fitness for the practice of law, and (2) the Board of Law Examiners erred in refusing to allow him to participate in the deferred admissions program. We affirm the Board\u2019s decision denying admission.\nAppellant Smith was granted a license to practice medicine in Arkansas in 1980. Prior to 1996, Smith began to abuse alcohol and began taking Demerol. On or about February 7, 1996, he was caught taking unauthorized control over Demerol from the White County Medical Center. At that point, appellant voluntarily entered a rehabilitation faculty, COPAC in Mississippi, for alcohol and drug usage. On July 11, 1996, the Arkansas State Medical Board issued an emergency order suspending appellant\u2019s license to practice medicine. On September 14, 1996, the Arkansas Medical Board unanimously found that Smith violated the Medical Practices Act, the laws of the United States and the State of Arkansas governing the possession, distribution and use of narcotics, and reinstated appellant conditioned on probation of five (5) years, including a five (5) year contract for monitoring and care with the Physician\u2019s Health Committee.\nLater in 1996, appellant resumed his medical practice, but failed to make the necessary changes to maintain rehabilitation, such as participation in a twelve-step support program. On January 4, 1998, Smith tested positive for Meperidine, Fentanyl, and opiates, in violation of his contract with the Arkansas Medical Foundation. Appellant then entered another alcohol and drug treatment program at Talbotts in Georgia. The Arkansas State Medical Board revoked Smith\u2019s medical license, but stayed the revocation for a period of five (5) years on various terms and conditions, such as participation in the Physician\u2019s Health Committee Program and abstention from alcohol and drugs.\nFollowing a second attempt at rehabilitation, Smith decided to change direction in his professional life and enrolled in law school, graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in December 2002. During this time, he failed to participate in the Physician\u2019s Health Committee Program, and, on February 2, 2001, the Arkansas State Medical Board accepted his offer not to renew his Arkansas medical license.\nWhile in law school, Smith was arrested for DWI on September 11, 1999, and convicted of that charge on October 7, 1999. On January 16, 2002, he was involved in an automobile accident, resulting in an arrest for DWI II, and a conviction on February 16, 2002.\nOn November 6, 2002, Smith filed a character questionnaire and supporting documents seeking admission to the Bar of Arkansas. The Executive Secretary of the State Board of Law Examiners reviewed Smith\u2019s application and questioned his eligibility, but allowed him to take the Bar Exam subject to a continuing character and fitness investigation. When Smith passed the Bar Exam in February 2003, his Bar application was sent to the Chairman of the Board of Law Examiners, who decided that an evidentiary hearing should be conducted to determine if Smith was eligible for the Deferred Admission Program. Following the hearing, the Board voted seven to three that Smith was not a cand\u00edate for deferred admission and further denied his admission to the Bar, finding that Smith was not fully rehabilitated and that a longer period of sobriety was necessary.\nSmith first argues that he has proven his rehabilitation and his fitness for the practice of law. We review bar admission and reinstatement cases de novo and will not reverse the findings of fact of the Law Examiners unless they are clearly erroneous. In Re Application of Crossley, 310 Ark. 435, 839 S.W.2d 1 (1992); In Re Petition for Reinstatement of Lee, 305 Ark. 196, 806 S.W.2d 382 (1991); Scales v. State Board of Law Examiners, 282 Ark. 578, 669 S.W.2d 895 (1984). A de novo review of the record determines whether the factual findings were clearly erroneous or whether the results reached were arbitrary or groundless. Lwellen v. Supreme Court Comm. on Professional Conduct, 353 Ark. 641, 110 S.W.3d 263 (2003). Clear error exists when, although there is evidence to support the decision under review, the reviewing court is left with a definite and firm conviction that mistake has been committed. Neal v. Matthews, 342 Ark. 566, 30 S.W.3d 92 (2000).\nA State cannot exclude a person from the practice of law or from any other occupation in a manner or for reasons that contravene the Due Process or Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Schware v. Board of Bar Examiners, 353 U.S. 232 (1957). A State can require high standards of qualification, such as good moral character or proficiency in its law, before it admits an applicant to the bar, but any qualification must have a rational connection with the applicant\u2019s fitness or capacity to practice law. Douglas v. Noble, 261 U.S. 165 (1923).\nIn In Re Application of Crossley, 310 Ark. 435, 839 S.W.2d 1 (1992), this court recognized chemical addiction is a disease, and in terms of the good moral character and mental and emotional stability required for admission to practice law, noted that addiction raises the question of fitness as opposed to moral turpitude. This court continued, saying \u201c[u]nhappily, though, that conclusion on our part does not decide the matter, for our ultimate purpose in resolving admission questions is to assess an applicant\u2019s fitness to practice law and to protect the public\u2019s interest.\u201d Crossley, 310 Ark. at 441.\nThere is no doubt, however, that chemical dependency is a factor to be weighed in assessing fitness to practice law. Id. The Supreme Court of Minnesota has specifically addressed the question of whether chemical dependency on alcohol is rationally related to fitness for the practice of law such that it can form the basis for preventing an otherwise qualified applicant from gaining admission to the bar. In Re Haukebo, 352 N.W.2d 752, 755 (Minn. 1984). That court recognized alcoholism as a disease and acknowledged its impact on the practice of law, concluding that the matter should be remanded to the State Board of Law Examiners for a decision on whether the applicant was rehabilitated. In doing so, the court commented on alcoholism:\nIt is not a mere pattern of voluntary conduct; neither is it an offense which necessarily involves moral turpitude or reflects on the individual\u2019s honesty, fairness, or respect for the rights of others or for the law. It cannot be denied, however, and the Board well knows, that the disease of alcoholism is frequently a contributing factor to acts of attorney misconduct.\n\u201cIn our own cases dealing with petitions for reinstatement to practice law, this court has adopted a case-by-case analysis in dealing with the moral character question. Rather than defining what \u2018good moral character\u2019 is, we have cited examples of what it is not.\u201d Crossley, 310 Ark. at 443. In Crossley, this court noted that we have not confronted the issue of whether chemical dependency-involving the use of illegal drugs disqualifies one from practicing law. This court agreed, however, that rather than moral turpitude, the issue surrounding chemical dependency is one of fitness to practice law. Id.\nAs asked in Crossley, what must Smith show to establish rehabilitation? Crossley said: \u201c[c]ertainly, an extended passage of time during which sobriety has been attained is a critical factor.\u201d Crossley, 310 Ark. at 444. Here, the record before the court outlines the justification for affirming the Board.\n\u2022 At some point prior to 1996, Smith began to abuse alcohol and began taking Demerol.\n\u2022 On or about February 7, 1996, he was caught faking unauthorized control over Demerol from the White County Medical Center. At this point, appellant voluntarily entered a rehabilitation faculty, COP AC in Mississippi, for alcohol and drug usage.\n\u2022 On July 11, 1996, the Arkansas State Medical Board issued an emergency order suspending appellant\u2019s license to practice medicine.\n\u2022 On September 14, 1996, the Arkansas Medical Board unanimously found that Smith violated the Medical Practices Act, the laws of the United States and the State of Arkansas governing the possession, distribution and use of narcotics, and reinstated appellant conditioned on probation of five (5) years, including a five (5) year contract for monitoring and care with the Physician\u2019s Health Committee.\n\u2022 Sometime in 1996, appellant resumed his medical practice, but failed to make the necessary changes to maintain rehabilitation, such as active and true participation in a twelve-step support program.\n\u2022 On January 4,1998, Smith tested positive for Meperidine, Fentanyl, and opiates, in violation of his contract with the Arkansas Medical Foundation. Again, appellant entered another alcohol and drug treatment program at Talbotts in Georgia. The Arkansas State Medical Board revoked Smith\u2019s medical license, but stayed the revocation for a period of five (5) years on various terms and conditions, such as participation in the Physician\u2019s Health Committee Program and abstention from alcohol and drugs.\n\u2022 Following the second rehabilitation stay, Smith \u201cdecided to change directions in his professional life so he applied and was accepted to law school.\u201d Appellant graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in December 2002. During this time, he failed to participate in the Physician\u2019s Health Committee Program.\n\u2022 While in law school, appellant was arrested for DWI on September 11, 1999, and convicted of that charge on October 7, 1999.\n\u2022 On January 16, 2002, Smith was involved in an automobile accident, and as a result was arrested for DWI II. Appellant was convicted on that offense on February 16, 2002.\nBased on Smith\u2019s pattern of alcohol and drug abuse and his relapses every eighteen months to two years, we cannot say that the findings of the Board that Smith was not fully rehabilitated and that he needed more time of sobriety are clearly erroneous. The denial of the application for admission to the Bar is affirmed without prejudice so that Terry Smith may reapply after a longer period of sustained sobriety. \u201cThat is not to say that we shall forever remain unconvinced of reformation. Experience teaches that true reformation does occur. With the passage of time, this applicant may mature; his insight may develop; he may be able to show that good moral character requisite to admission to the Bar.\u201d Crossley, 310 Ark. at 445 (quoting Application of Taylor, 647 P.2d at 467-468).\nFor his second point on appeal, Smith argues that the Board erred in refusing to allow him to participate in the deferred admissions program. He says no specific reasons were given for declaring that [he] has'not yet been rehabilitated, only that he had failed to establish rehabilitation by a preponderance of the evidence. Smith argues that, other than references to his substance abuse history, the findings do not describe what factors were used in reaching that determination.\nRule XIII of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar states in part:\nThe circumstances which might warrant such a deferral are: an applicant currently has a condition or impairment resulting from alcohol or other chemical or substance abuse which currently adversely affects the applicant\u2019s ability to practice law in a competent and professional manner.\nSmith argues that, \u201cshould the Board\u2019s ruling stand, [he] will be forced to wait some indeterminate amount of time (without any guidance from the Board whatsoever) and then reapply, retake the Bar Exam and presumably go through the hearing process once more.\u201d As appellant points out, no one in this proceeding is challenging his intellectual or academic capabilities.\nThe Board recognized that Smith had previously been given opportunities not dissimilar to those offered by the deferred admission program. The probation granted by the September 27, 1996, order of the State Medical Board granted appellant the same type of assistance program contemplated by Rule XIII of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar. However, less than one and one-half years into that five year probation period, Smith tested positive for controlled substances. Again, in June 1998, Smith tested positive for controlled substances and the State Medical Board revoked his license, but stayed that revocation on the condition he participate in the Physician\u2019s Health Committee Program. Then, in 1999, appellant was arrested and convicted with his first of two DWI\u2019s while attending law school.\nBased on Smith\u2019s prior performance under like programs offered and administered by the Arkansas State Medical Broad, Smith did not establish rehabilitation by a preponderance of the evidence; therefore, the Board is affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Betty C. Dickey, Chief Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Gary Eubanks and Associates, by: Russell D. Marlin, for appellant.", "W. Frank Morledge, P.A., for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Terry Ronald SMITH v. STATE BOARD of LAW EXAMINERS\n03-1308\n187 S.W.3d 842\nSupreme Court of Arkansas\nOpinion delivered June 10, 2004\nGary Eubanks and Associates, by: Russell D. Marlin, for appellant.\nW. Frank Morledge, P.A., for appellee." }, "file_name": "0628-01", "first_page_order": 650, "last_page_order": 657 }