Application of Skousen

289 P.2d 406, 79 Ariz. 325, 1955 Ariz. LEXIS 171

• Court: Arizona Supreme Court
• Decided: November 3, 1955
• Docket: 6162
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The matter before the court is the application of Don Parley Skousen for reinstatement to membership in the State Bar of Arizona, he having heretofore been disbarred.

The applicant, on November 25, 1925, was admitted by this court, as an attorney and counselor-at-law in all the courts of .this state, upon his written representation that he was a citizen of the United States. United States citizenship is and was one of the prerequisites for admission to practice law in this state. Section 263, C.C.1913. On January 11, 1947, an order of disbarment was éntered against petitioner upon the ground that he ' had been adjudged guilty of a felony in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. The record before us on applicant’s’petition for reinstatement discloses’that'at‘the time of applicant’s original admii’sio'ii' he was not a'citizen'of the United ’’States. This’fact forces the'conclusion "that this court was without' authority ih’the”'first instance to admit' petitioner "tcrpractice law, and that its order admitting 'fiStitioner to practice law in this state wa’s’ahd is' null .and void. The applicant cannot be rein- .. stated to a status that never has legally . existed.

It is hereby ordered that the license-heretofore issued to Don Parley Skousen to practice as an attorney.and counselor in the courts of this state be and the same is hereby cancelled and revoked, and the Clerk of this court is directed and ordered to strike his name from the roll of attorneys of this state.

LA PRADE, C. J., and UDALL, WINDES, PHELPS and STRUCKMEYER, JJ., concur.