Article

Judge: Internet Law Grad Can't Take State Bar

  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

A graduate of a non-ABA-accredited Internet correspondence law school in California has lost a court battle to force Connecticut to allow him to take the state bar exam. Derby, Conn., resident Mel Thompson filed suit in state court pro se in September 2005 claiming he had a constitutional right to take the test.

But U.S. District Court Judge Christopher F. Droney said the constitution doesn’t yet come into play, because Thompson lacked standing and didn’t exhaust his remedies before filing suit against the state and bar authorities there. For details about the March 30 ruling granting a defense motion to dismiss, see today’s Connecticut Law Tribune article.

Thompson had asserted civil, due process and equal protection rights under the Fifth and 14th amendments.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.