The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) recently denied a prospective attorney’s application for admission to the bar on the grounds that he was not morally fit to practice law in the Commonwealth. In the case, In re: Chankrakant Shridhar Panse, an individual passed the state bar exam and submitted an application to be admitted as an attorney.
However, three lawyers came forward to the Board of Bar Overseers (“BBO”), objecting to his admission. The Board discovered that the applicant had filed numerous harassing lawsuits against his ex-wife and others, and lodged professional complaints against several attorneys and judges. The applicant was also a party to other litigation proceedings, which he did not disclosed on his application.
After conducting a formal hearing, the BBO found the applicant to be a man, who misuses the legal system, and determined that he would likely use his license to practice law to cause harm to others. For these reasons, the BBO recommended that the applicant be denied admission to the bar.
The SJC affirmed the BBO’s decision, citing the applicant’s pattern of resorting to personal attacks against litigants, counsel, judges, and anyone else who held a contrary position. The Court also found that the applicant had failed to produce evidence that he possessed the necessary moral character to practice law in Massachusetts. Consequently, the Court issued an Order denying his application.
Decision: In re: Chankrakant Shridhar Panse
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