Tulane Student Can't Take Bar Exam

Emily Maw, the Tulane law student discussed here, will not be able to stay in Louisiana to continue her death penalty work because Louisiana prohibits visiting foreign lawyers from taking the State bar exam, as reported here. The story has been reported by the Associated Press. The article notes:

The rule was issued without explanation by the Louisiana Committee on Bar Admissions in 2000 and upheld without comment by the state Supreme Court last year, triggering speculation that the justices were simply tired of foreign defense attorneys using clever arguments to get death sentences overturned.

The article also notes that Louisiana is the only state with such a ban. Even if the prohibition can be justified in some manner, shouldn't there be an exemption for students that attend Louisiana law schools. [Link via Weird of the News via Ernie the Attorney]

Update: Also see 306Taint.us for some colorful commentary (see the quote below) on this story. [Also via Ernie the Attorney]

Some foreigners, unfortunately, have the misfortune to go to Louisiana. Louisiana is renowned for: 1) bare breasts; 2) voodoo; 3) unemployed people; 4) being a state which just loves to execute people Cajun style. Woooweee! Yeeehaaa! Laissez bon temps roulez!

Posted by AJR at May 6, 2003 01:01 PM