Matter of Rules for Admission to Th

Opinion

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

IN RE 1998 RULES FOR 1 ADMISSION TO THE BAR ORDER OF MONTANA

This Court has been advised that the State Bar of Montana is imposing a $100 “late

fee” to petitioners granted permission by this Court to submit late applications to sit for the

February, 2000 Montana Bar Examination. The State Bar is proceeding on the authority

granted it by the former Rules for Admission to the Bar of the State of Montana effective

January 17, 1991, which allowed a “late tiling penalty of $100.00” for applications

postmarked or hand delivered after the deadline for accepting applications.

The Court is mindful of the accelerated effort required by the State Bar when a

petitioner is granted permission to file a late application to sit for a bar examination.

However, effective November 17, 1998, this Court amended the Rules for Admission to the

Bar of Montana and the current Rules make no provision for a “late filing penalty of

$100.00.”

Whereas the Rules for Admission to the Bar of the State of Montana effective

November 17, 1998, no longer provide for a “late tiling penalty,”

IT IS ORDERED that the State Bar of Montana refund any late filing fees it has

collected from petitioners granted permission by this Court to tile a late application to sit for

the February, 2000, bar examination. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court mail a true copy hereof to

the State Bar of Montana.

DATED thiszagecernber, 1999.

Justices