Lawyer Denied License Reinstatement Under Agreement to Resign

An attorney who failed to show he’s competent to practice law isn’t entitled to reinstatement of his license under an agreement to immediately resign, the Minnesota Supreme Court said.

The state’s traditional test for attorney reinstatement—moral change and intellectual competence to practice law—applies when an attorney agrees he will resign his law license and not apply for admission or re-admission in any jurisdiction, the court said Wednesday in a case of first impression.

William Mose wished to be reinstated and resign so he could be placed on the Minnesota Judicial Branch’s roster of alternative dispute resolution neutrals, which he is ...