Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions

        (1) There is hereby created a Committee on Character and Fitness, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, to be composed of four attorneys, appointed by the Supreme Court for terms of three years, the members to serve until the expiration of their terms and until their successors are appointed. The Supreme Court of Kentucky shall appoint the Chair of the Committee.

        (2) Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, the Committee shall have the power to adopt and amend rules and regulations governing the manner in which it carries out its duties. The Character and Fitness Committee may appoint from the bar of the state associate members of the Character and Fitness Committee.

        (3) The Committee on Character and Fitness is charged with the responsibility of determining the age, character and fitness, education and general qualifications of those applicants for admission to the bar of the Commonwealth whose applications are referred to it by the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The Character and Fitness Committee is further charged with the duty of certifying to the Supreme Court persons who appear qualified to perform legal services as interns under Rule 2.540.

        (4) The Character and Fitness Committee, in determining the character and fitness of an applicant for admission to the bar of the Commonwealth and in determining the character and fitness of a person seeking to perform legal services as an intern under, Rule 2.540 may have such persons investigated by associate members of the Character and Fitness Committee, members of the bar of the state, the National Conference of Bar Examiners or any other reputable investigative agency. Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court the Character and Fitness Committee may compensate any person or agency making such investigation out of funds held for that purpose.

        (5) The Character and Fitness Committee shall submit to the Board of Bar Examiners the names and addresses of all applicants to take the examination who will be eligible upon approval from the standpoint of character and fitness and upon submission of the required recommendations of their law school deans. Said list shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the extended late deadline. At least ten days prior to each Bar examination the Character and Fitness Committee shall certify to the Secretary of the Board of Bar Examiners the names and addresses of all applicants who are qualified to take that Bar examination

        (6) From time to time, the Character and Fitness Committee shall recommend to the Supreme Court admissions to the bar without examination of applicants for such admission who qualify therefore under the provisions of Rule 2.110.

        (7) The Character and Fitness Committee shall have the power to issue subpoenas and to assess costs as it shall determine necessary.

[Amended effective January 1, 1978; February 24, 1986; August 1, 1992 Amended effective February 1, 2000]

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   Last modified: October 11, 2010