Law Students Civil Rights Research Council v. Wadmond

• Decision Date: 25 September 1968
• Docket Number: No. 68 Civ. 2917,68 Civ. 2938.,68 Civ. 2917
• Citation: 291 F. Supp. 772
• Parties: LAW STUDENTS CIVIL RIGHTS RESEARCH COUNCIL INC., Toby B. Golick, James C. Mauro, Jr. and William H. B. Rodarmor on behalf of themselves and all other persons similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. Lowell WADMOND, Felix A. Muldoon, Edwin L. Weisl, Mark F. Hughes, Bruce Bromley, Monroe Goldwater, Arthur H. Schwartz, Bernard Teencher, Thomas B. Dyett and Alfred A. Giardino as chairman and members of the Appellate Division First Department Committee on Character and Fitness of Applicants for Admission to the Bar, Defendants. Stephen Martin WEXLER, H. Gabriel Kaimowitz, the Columbia Law Students Guild, New York City Chapter of National Lawyers Guild, Plaintiffs, v. The SUPREME COURT OF the STATE OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT; the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department; the Committee on Character and Fitness, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department; the Committee on Character and Fitness, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York

291 F. Supp. 772

LAW STUDENTS CIVIL RIGHTS RESEARCH COUNCIL INC., Toby B. Golick, James C. Mauro, Jr. and William H. B. Rodarmor on behalf of themselves and all other persons similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. Lowell WADMOND, Felix A. Muldoon, Edwin L. Weisl, Mark F. Hughes, Bruce Bromley, Monroe Goldwater, Arthur H. Schwartz, Bernard Teencher, Thomas B. Dyett and Alfred A. Giardino as chairman and members of the Appellate Division First Department Committee on Character and Fitness of Applicants for Admission to the Bar, Defendants.

Stephen Martin WEXLER, H. Gabriel Kaimowitz, the Columbia Law Students Guild, New York City Chapter of National Lawyers Guild, Plaintiffs, v. The SUPREME COURT OF the STATE OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT; the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department; the Committee on Character and Fitness, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department; the Committee on Character and Fitness, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, Defendants.

Nos. 68 Civ. 2917; 68 Civ. 2938.

United States District Court S. D. New York.

September 25, 1968.

Levy, Gutman & Goldberg, by Jeremiah S. Gutman, New York City, Alan H. Levine, New York City, Rabinowitz, Boudin & Standard, New York City, for plaintiffs.

Louis J. Lefkowitz, Atty. Gen., State of New York, for defendants. Daniel M. Cohen, Asst. Atty. Gen., New York City, of counsel.

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER FOR THREE JUDGE COURT

MOTLEY, District Judge.

Plaintiffs in these two actions attack the constitutionality of certain New York statutes, rules and regulations relating to the character and fitness of those seeking admission to the New York bar. More specifically, plaintiffs claim, inter alia, that rights guaranteed them by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Federal Constitution are being violated by defendants' enforcement of the statutory and regulatory provisions under attack. Plaintiffs say that these statutes, rules and regulations are unconstitutional on their face and as applied.

The first statute in question is the New York Judiciary Law, McKinney's Consol.Laws, c. 30, § 90(1). That statute confers upon the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in each Judicial Department the power to admit applicants to the bar upon the state board of law examiners certifying to it that the applicant has passed the required examination. The statute decrees that the Appellate Division shall admit such person to practice "if it shall be satisfied that such person possesses the character and general fitness requisite for an attorney and counselor-at-law." The statute also contains the proviso that the applicant shall be admitted to the bar only if he has complied with the rules in all respects of the Court of Appeals of the State and the Appellate Division.

The Appellate Division is directed by statute (New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, Rule 9401) to appoint a committee for each Appellate Division District "for the purpose of investigating the character and fitness of every applicant for admission to practice." Every application for admission by a person who has been certified by the state board of law examiners must be referred to the committee for the district in which such person actually resides. (New York CPLR, Rule 9402). Unless otherwise ordered by the Appellate Division, "no person shall be admitted to practice without a certificate from the proper committee that it has carefully investigated the character and fitness of the applicant and that, in such respects, he is entitled to admission." (N.Y.C.P.L.R., Rule 9404). "To enable the committee to make such investigation the committee, subject to the approval of the justices of the appellate division, is authorized to prescribe and from time to time to amend a form of statement or questionnaire in which they shall set forth * * * all the information and data required by the committee and the appellate division justices." (N.Y.C.P.L.R., Rule 9404). The committee is enjoined by statute from issuing its certificate to any person and the Appellate Division is precluded by the same law from admitting any person to practice, unless such person, inter alia, shall furnish satisfactory proof to the effect "that he believes in the form of the government of the United States and is loyal to such government." (N.Y.C.P.L.R., Rule 9406).

Rule VIII of the Rules of the Court of Appeals For Admission of Attorneys and Counselors-At-Law (Judiciary Law-Appendix) requires every applicant to "produce before a Committee on Character and Fitness * * * and file with such Committee evidence that he possesses the good moral character and general fitness requisite for an attorney and counselor-at-law as provided in Section 90 of the Judiciary Law, which must be shown by the affidavits of two reputable persons residing in the city or county in which he resides."

Plaintiffs in 68 Civ. 2938 allege in their complaint that the Judiciary Law § 90, C.P.L.R. Rules 9401-9406, and Rule VIII of the Court of Appeals lack sufficient standards and are in violation of, inter alia, the First and Fourteenth Amendments¹.

With greater specificity, these plaintiffs allege that Rule 9406: 1) improperly requires an applicant to bear an unlimited and indefinite burden of proof of his belief in and loyalty to the form of our government; 2) is unreasonably vague; and 3) improperly makes belief in our form of government a condition of admission to the bar. Also, plaintiffs say belief in our form of government is not reasonably related to the legitimate objectives of the state in determining character and fitness.²

Plaintiffs in 68 Civ. 2938 then assail in their complaint certain questions propounded by the Committees on Character and Fitness of the First and Second Departments of the Appellate Division in their questionnaires. Examples of the questions under attack are the following:

"20. Have you participated in activities of a public or private nature or in philanthropic, religious, or social services? If so, state fully.

"21(A). Give the names, addresses, objects of and period of membership in each and every club, association, society or organization of which you are or have been a member."³

* * * * * *

"32. Have you written any articles for publication? If so, give the circumstances, the name of publication, the date of publication and the title and subject matter of the article.

* * * * * *

"36. (a) Are you now, or have you ever been at any time (including the time during which you attended high school, college and law school, and including the time during which you engaged in military service or any community activity) a member of any club, association, society or organization or political party.

(b) If answer be yes, give the name, address and objects of each and every such club, association, society or organization or party and state the period of your membership and your position or title therein."⁴

The foregoing questions are challenged on the ground that they violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Plaintiffs say that they are: 1) overbroad and without reasonable limitation; 2) compel disclosure of political beliefs, associations, speech and activities protected by the First Amendment and make such factors relevant in determining admission to the bar; 3) compel disclosure of religious activities, beliefs and associations and likewise make such factors considerations in determining admission to the bar.⁵

Plaintiffs in 68 Civ. 2938 attack the constitutionality of the oaths required in the Committees' Questionnaires on virtually the same constitutional grounds set forth above.⁶ The oaths required by the First Department are:

"24(A) Do you believe in the principles underlying the form of government of the United States? State on a rider, in not less than 100 words, what you believe those principles to be.

(B) Can you conscientiously and do you affirm that you are, without any mental reservations, loyal to the Government of the United States?"

The oaths required by the Second Department are as follows:

"33. Do you believe in the principles underlying the form of government of the United States? Briefly state the reasons for your answers.

"34. Do you conscientiously affirm (without any mental reservation) that you are loyal to the Government of the United States of America?"

Plaintiffs challenge on similar constitutional grounds the content of the personal interviews of applicants required by the Committees. Plaintiffs claim that improper inquiry is often made concerning applicant's First Amendment activities.⁷

Finally, plaintiffs assail the practice of the Committees in requiring applicants to obtain and submit affidavits of "character and home life" on the ground that this practice constitutes an unlimited and indiscriminate invasion of the applicants' privacy in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.⁸ Similar allegations are made in the complaint in 68 Civ. 2917.⁹

Plaintiffs in both cases claim that the foregoing statutes, rules, regulations and practices have the effect of deterring and inhibiting the exercise of rights of speech, association and belief guaranteed by the First Amendment.

The relief sought by plaintiffs in each action is a declaratory judgment declaring the above statutes, rules, questions and practices unconstitutional and a permanent injunction enjoining defendants from enforcing same.

These actions are before this court on motions by plaintiffs to convene three-judge courts pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2281 et seq. Plaintiffs in 68 Civ. 2917 also move to consolidate the two suits pursuant to Rule 42(a), Fed.R. Civ.P. The latter motion and the motion to convene a three-judge court in 68 Civ. 2917 were referred to this court, with consent, by Judge Wyatt on August 27, 1968.

Only a three-judge district court operating under ...