U.S. Sued by Legal Group Over Reciprocal Bar Admission Rules

Local attorney admission rules that deny reciprocal admission to lawyers in good standing in other states, and compel citizens to choose a forum state lawyer instead, are “facially unconstitutional,” according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in New Jersey.

Lawyers for Fair Reciprocal Admission sued the U.S., its attorney general, and other federal officials, saying the “uneven” local rules associated with reciprocal admissions have “nothing what-so-ever to do with merit or competence.”

“All novice forum state attorneys (the special favorites) are categorically qualified, and all experienced lawyers from forty-nine states (the subordinate second-class citizens) are categorically disqualified,” the ...