Petition for Writ of Certiorari — McKenzie v. Rehnquist
Supreme Court brief2001
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Supreme Court, U,8,
Teta D
00 149 sy 27
No. TSS a ae eee
In the
Supreme Court of the United States
&
MONICA M. McKENZIE, JEFFREY L. RUSSELL, ROGER
LOWENSTEIN, BENITA KICHLER, RICHARD J. PACIULIAN, LUISITO
L. LOPEZ, ARTHUR MINTZ, HOWARD SOBEN, DAVID ZISSER,
Petitioners,
versus
Hon. WILIAM H. REHNQUIST, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE JUDICIAL
CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. JUAN R.
TORRUELLA, Hon. JOSEPH L. TAURO, Hon. JON O. NEWMAN, Hon.
PETER C. DORSEY, Hon. DOLORES K. SLOVITER, Hon.
EDWARD N. CAHN, Hon. J. HARVIE In WILKINSON III, Hon. W.EARL
BRITT, Hon. HENRY A. POLITZ, Hon. WILLIAM H.
BARBOUR, JR., Hon. BOYCE F. MARTIN, JR., Hon. THOMAS A.
WISEMAN, JR., Hon. RICHARD A. POSNER, Hon. MICHAEL M.
MIHM, Hon. RICHARD S. ARNOLD, Hon. DONALD E. O’BRIEN, Hon.
PROCTOR HUG, JR., Hon. LLOYD D. GEORGE, Hon.
STEPHANIE K. SEYMOUR, Hon. CLARRENCE A. BRIMMER, Hon.
JOSEPH W. HATCHETT, Hon. WM. TERRELL HODGES, Hon.
HARRY T. EDWARDS, Hon. JOHN GARRETT PENN, Hon. GLENN L.
ARCHER, JR., Hon. GREGORY W. CARMAN,
Respondents.
On Petition for Writ of Certiorari to The United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI
Joseph R. Giannini
Counsel of Record
2950 Bentley Ave. #2
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 914-8493
Curry & Taylor (202) 393-414 1/ussupremecourt@hotmail.com
oe -
i
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
1. The First Amendment safeguards beyond the reach of
governmental interference the constitutional freedoms to speech
(advocacy), association, and to petition for redress of
grievances. Inseparable and interwoven and with these First
Amendment freedoms, this Court has held an attorney’s
opportunity ‘o practice law is a constitutionally protected
Privilege and Immunity. This Court has held geographical
isolation or difficulty in supervising a nationwide bar
membership does not justify discrimination in bar admission.
Federal substantive law and procedure are uniform. Do United
States District Court “local” rules that categorically grant
general bar admission privileges to newly minted attorneys
from the forum State, and categorically deny general bar
admission privileges to highly qualified and experienced
attorneys from outside the forum State — violate the First
Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause, or the attorney’s
constitutionally protected Privileges and Immunities?
2. Congress has declared in 28 U.S.C. § 2071(a) that
United States District Court “local” rules shall be consistent
with Acts of Congress and the national rules. Congress has
declared in 28 U.S.C. § 2072(b) that “local” rules shall not
modify, abridge, or enlarge any substantive rights. Are federal
district court “local” attorney admission rules that categorically
enlarge the First Amendment liberties and Privileges and
Immunities of forum State attorneys, and categorically modify
and abridge the First Amendment liberties and Privileges and
Immunities of experienced federal practice attorneys from
outside the forum State, lawful?
3. Do “local” rules that are adopted by United States
District Judges, that grant enormous federal substantive
privileges to one State’s attorneys that are denied to another
State’s attorneys, violate the Supremacy Clause, or the Full
Faith and Credit Clause?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COU TIONS PITTI oi sscisctiininisiccnachinkicic in naseaaies i
BR GIT ircecisestcinssihinccieinstivesnichicieeticbeticaeiakaennasaelengicn il
TARDE CP RIFT IG sisisscctsbtininicisisininigncicsibactasisiads uncial ili
CPI BIW iss isin ctssscinecvtcntarsinectatensacthctemtbbe maaan |
FA icici cctidicistniasntnnlitinenitsibrihieaena aaa l
SEATS OP THI EAI nics vicccsssissssinescisdsiinncctecicecstasceactbans 2
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT .........sccccsessssesssesseeesenseeees 6
CN sisi sivcine epccisiciscnin einen ee 17
APPENDIX
CORCURT CISC FOIE vv civecensnisnnisncasticnicsnceannseiicn la
DISTRICT COURT MEMORANDUM OPINION ..........s2s0seeeseeees 4a
SUSIE CI CI iit ic eitiestinegiincdcicidinddbicncdi l6a
ORDER DENYING REHEARING ...........scccccsesssssesssssssceeseees 17a
RELEVANT CONSTITUTIONAL , STATUTORY,
ORDINANCE PROVISIONS INVOLVED .........cccccecceccccccceseeees 18a
ill
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
CASES
Austin v. New Hampshire, 402 U.S. 656 (1975)... 17
Barnard v. Thorstenn, 482 U.S. 546 (1989) .........:cccsscessseeseeeees 8
California Democratic Party v. Jones,
SOIT CO) nen sceensssssccnscsnsineconevsessescensenvese 19, 20, 21
City of Lakewood v. Plain Dealers Publishing Company 486
U.S. 750, 108 S.Ct. 2138, 2152 (1988) ...........crccsescrcsserseres 24
Congress. In U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779
CIID saiisiiesscssnsdsaincrsennssesconssnnennsnonsssnserssnsnenessnvessesssesensioresen 22
Cornelius v. NAACP Legal Defense & Ed. Fund, Inc., 473 U.S.
Fe ED iaciinseshannsavcerecnsnsteaminhinissererovecnsesonnsoemnqoioensees 18
Department of Labor v. Triplett, 494 U.S. 715 (1990).............. 4
Dred Scott v. Sandford 60 U.S. (19 Howard) 393 (1856) and In
re Lockwood, 154 U.S. 116 (1894) ........ccccsecseseereeeeees 2, 14
Frazier v. Heebe, 482 U.S. 641, 649 (1987).........csccceseeees passim
FTC v. Superior Court Trial Lawyers Assn. 493 U.S. 411
EI disk shcccccnicsnvetesemesnionsacsnnsensscsearssascnssasvessosenesnrsteereqnocsvecs 10
Giannini v. Real, 911 F.2d 354 (9th Cir. 1990) cert. denied 498
ee PE in iiccsia llainicsersdbeiresscivocsvensssnnensenscusasesetovensess 25
Keller v. State Bar of California, 496 U.S. 1, 13 (1990)........... 9
Leis v. Flynt, 439 U.S. 438, 443 (1979) .......cscssesesseseeceeeeenenes 23
Matter of Rouss, [221 N. Y. 81, 84, 116 N.E. 782, 783............ 2
Members of City Council of Los Angeles v. Taxpayers for
Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 804 (1984).........cccccsecssessesseeeeeenees 18
Missouri. In Bradwell v. Illinois 83 U.S. (16 Wall) 130 (1872)
ahs saliptdvapiemiuwppasnenapenanbasnbeniqeseeeeens 14
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 270 (1964).. 18
Police Dept. of Chicago v. Mosley, 408 U.S. 92 (1972)......... 20
Saenz v. Roe, 526 U.S. 489 (1999) 00... cecsceeseeeteeeeteeeneeeenees 17
Schlumberger Technologies, Inc. v. Wiley, 113 F.3d 1553 (11th
ON I sini Sarscitilsisenenbvandvaihirtensoeetiinianopescronmivavensinetceneces 24
Schneider v. United States, 308 U.S. 147, 163 (1939)........... 21
Supreme Court of New Hampshire v. Piper 470 U.S. 274
PE ila cds stabi gbshndtwenidinrdnitsaccetaresesoonsesyeninaszesessovnse 8, 12, 16
iV
Theard v. United States, 354 U.S. 278, 281 (1957)... l
U.S. v. Childress, 58 F.3d 693, 736 (D.C.Cir. 1995)............... 24
U.S. v. Ferguson, 54 F.3d 825 (D.C. Cir. 1995) ........cssessssseseeee 9
United States v. Allegheny County, 322 U.S. 164, 176 (1944)21
United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc., 529 U.S.
OD sd septa ciecebbenpenanteednsicnaniddiascbiaaebeaatbianieaadiiiaisinlatie 19
United States v. Ries, 100 F.3d 1469 (9th Cir. 1996) cert.
CORTE: EFT AK. CORO BOTY veneisacsittnnaitasventtaamhcepcisneieiie: 24
STATUTES/RULES
FU Ries te a iavastctinticncesuciensiniedibatiaiehdiensadalaakakeaiigumssigleia a Ce
Fae ID iivccciseeininshennisstcanpibcidioasssdiabiiadielebaieinlenios 22, 30
Be RAs BF 6 tt tarscncinennsemsbnniesnintnnineinkioenaniiaaaaaeed |
Be Ai Be ita ssnivssuinipeinisicicbipuncicliaininitinia i iibiasbacame taltaiaaaah el eas |
Be CET 0 Br i ce ticecssctitnnisesirinaticiviniiihaielclaglagibiaiattlicasa aceite 16
Fe acs. AO TIRIED wxicesnsensttendunpistckgusiiiaimnieeaiamliapanpeagsas ‘7, 33
Bee See AE wiiestsvanntccosccessecbicedpuiunbicnaeadeiediennii mamas 15
Be CER © Sa thiines skieniicicesnssibiabiiiarniicldielanciuaammiamanie 15
er As SE Aart Ee wissciconihesieetapuiaininiepiriileaitiaacaitii 15, 16, 17, 35
Fe es BR NTA iiviccshvibinsintitcbbesittiinbilcesaivsiiadaniaiaieaians passim
2B USA. OB S31, FSd, BOT PST Vv visivensecdsnseishdeiniideaiboancieitle ads 15
BO BE, OB BO eesisnasssiiiscscdcanjssiaiiecinaciaiiidiaieaipeleiiiieaieatia 4
Be CRs: BET AE wsinersssominincineisiaaibaaiaaiiaioacadaielan 15, 25
FRIAR Wi aicssssictnnniissiscitsciiiaaesliokashesenealnscieidasalitieap alma dinaaiaaae a 7, 22
PRA Sion isccsicssantiinnnercertnsiitsiccininnettcaiiacpaiianbaiabedigttigalinind 22, 30
MISCELLANEOUS
Admissions To the Federal Courts
SGD FAR Fi SES CAG OO vsknttivctivciitwinpccbniiectanciniblads 13
Federal Judicial Center, Manual for Cooperation Between State
ted Famers Cam On CTO) ia tsicinsthcenscetlinceshicnsticthceattniiiicadnsasiis 9
Judicial Conference, Working Papers of the Committee on
Rules of Practice and Procedure (Sep. 97).....:..c.sccsscesseeeee 12
l
OPINION BELOW
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Judgment, entered without an Opinion and not
reported, is set forth at Appendix, p. 1-3. The United States
District Court for the District of Columbia Judgment and Order
entering a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal and denying petitioner’s
Motion for Summary Judgment are not reported, and are set
forth at App. p. 4-16.
STATEMENT OF SUPREME COURT JURISDICTION
The statutory provision for this Court’s jurisdiction is 28
U.S.C. § 1254. The decision of the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia to be reviewed was
entered November 24, 1999. A petition for rehearing en banc
was timely filed. An order denying rehearing en banc was filed
February 29, 2000. An order enlarging the time to file for
certiorari review until July 28, 2000 was filed on March 11,
2000 by JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
1. Introduction
A citizen’s right to associate and petition with counsel
in all federal courts is Constitutionally based and expressly
authorized by statute. 28 U.S.C. § 1654 (App. p. 18) The
central question sought to be reviewed is the legality of those
United States District Court “local” rules, that categorically
grant general bar admission privileges to newly minted
attorneys licensed in the forum State, and categorically deny
general bar admission privileges to highly qualified and
experienced attorneys licensed outside the forum State.
This Court in Theard v. United States, 354 U.S. 278,
281 (1957) recognized,
“The matter was compendiously put by Mr.
Justice Cardozo, while Chief Judge of the
New York Court of Appeals. "‘Membership
2
in the bar is a privilege burdened with
conditions’ (Matter of Rouss, {221 N. Y. 81,
84, 116 N.E. 782, 783]). The appellant was
received into that ancient fellowship for
something more than private gain. He became
an officer of the court, and, like the court
itself, an instrument or agency to advance the
ends of justice.”
This Court in Frazier v. Heebe, 482 U.S. 641, 649
(1987), held “the location of a lawyer's office simply has
nothing to do with his or her intellectual ability or experience in
litigating cases in Federal District Court.” (Emphasis added)
This Petition for Certiorari raises the closely related question
referred to and left unanswered in Frazier v. Heebe, namely,
whether Federal District Court local rules that categorically
discriminate, regardless of individual merit or need, against
federal practice lawyers licensed outside the forum State have
“anything to do with the lawyer’s intellectual ability or
experience in litigating cases in Federal District Court”? Jbid.
This question will be first viewed in light of this Court’s
analysis in Frazier v. Heebe. Recent public testimony
denouncing these local rules by respected arms of the bar will
be examined, and the challenged local rules will be shown to be
the progeny of the despised Supreme Court decisions in Dred
Scott v. Sandford 60 U.S. (19 Howard) 393 (1856) and Jn re
Lockwood, 154 U.S. 116 (1894). This issue will then be filtered
through the even more stringent “local” rule standards enacted
by Congress after Frazier v. Heebe was decided. This issue will
be directly examined in light of this Court’s First Amendment
jurisprudence concerning the freedoms of speech (advocacy),
association, and petition for redress of grievances in a federal
pubic forum. The challenged rules will be shown to be an
unprincipled and violent invasion of our Constitution and our
mother principles articulated in the Declaration of
Independence.
This Court should exercise its inherent supervisory
jurisdiction, as well as its statutorily delegated responsibility
over federal rules and procedure, and grant review because of
the nationwide reach of the questions presented that plumb the
limits of District Judge rule-making and because of the
3
astonishing specter of impropriety flowing from the decisions
below. The Court of Appeals one paragraph Judgment entered
without Opinion and without oral argument affirms a non-
published trial Court decision that was also entered without oral
argument; and petitioners were denied leave to amend their 50-
page Complaint. These procedural shortcuts in a case
challenging Federal District Judge “local” rule-making power,
and parochial hometown “local” attorney admission rules
throughout our Union that are alleged to be unconstitutional,
offends common notions of due process. The rule of men afraid
of a superstitious taboo has trumped the rule of law. Petitioners
submit the appellate Court’s one paragraph secret Judgment in
this First Amendment public forum case where our CHIEF
JUSTICE and other federal judges serving throughout our
Union are named defendants, is an admission by silence that the
petitioners’ arguments are unanswerable. Petitioners submit the
challenged “local” rules are conspicuously outmoded and
unlawful. In these circumstances, this Honorable Court has a
public trust and fiduciary duty to grant certiorari and answer
these questions presented.
y & The Petitioners, Respondents, and the Challenged
“Local” Rules
The petitioners are eminent, ethically qualified, and
experienced mobile federal practice attorneys. This Court has
often recognized that pro hac vice admission is not equivalent
to general admission. The petitioners who have been received
into that ancient fellowship for something more than private
gain, and who are instruments to advance the ends of justice,
seek general admission and full Federal District Court equal
bar membership privileges.
At the time the Complaint was filed, all of the
petitioners lived and lawfully worked as attorneys in
California.’ Two of the petitioners have since moved out-of-
* California Rule of Professional Conduct “1-100 (B)(1) Law Firm means:
two or more lawyers whose activities constitute the practice of law, and who
share its profits, expenses, and liabilities.” [defines “lawyers” as including
out-of-state lawyers and members of State Bar]
4
state. MONICA M. McKENZIE was in-house corporate
counsel for a publicly traded company. JEFFREY L. RUSSELL
is a _ retired Asst. United States Attorney. ROGER
LOWENSTEIN is a Harvard Law School graduate and former
Chief Federal Public Defender for the District of New Jersey.
BENITA KICHLER, was trademark counsel for a Fortune 500
company, overseeing 10,000 national and international
trademarks. RICHARD J. PACIULAN is a patent lawyer
admitted for over 20 years to the bar of the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. LOUISITO L. LOPEZ is an immigration
law specialist. ARTHUR MINTZ is a former bankruptcy
receiver. HOWARD SOBEN is a tax specialists and corporate
counsel for a charitable organization. DAVID ZISSER is a
federal tax and bankruptcy law specialist.
The respondents are the individual members of the
United States Judicial Conference. Except for CHIEF JUSTICE
REHNQUIST, each of the respondents also wears a “second
hat” as Chief Judge or representative of the Judicial Councils
for the Circuits. These respondents are also sued in that
representative official capacity. Congress, in 1988, delegated to
the respondents an affirmative and continuous supervisory duty
under 28 U.S.C. §§ 331-32 to review and superintend “local”
rules to make certain they are in accordance with the rule-
making standards set forth in 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071-72 as revised.
This subject will be subsequently addressed in greater detail.
The petitioners in their Complaint have requested
Declaratory Relief declaring that Federal District Court local
rules that categorically prohibit out-of-state attorneys from
general admission are unlawful. Petitioners have also requested
Injunctive Relief barring further enforcement of the challenged
rules. The trial Court held the petitioners have standing, or
could demonstrate standing if permitted to amend their
Complaint. The petitioners aver they are still being injured by
the challenged “local” rules, facially and as applied. The
petitioners also submit they have third party standing to assert
the First Amendment rights of their clients to associate and
petition. Department of Labor v. Triplett, 494 U.S. 715 (1990).
? This Court in Triplett reasoned, 494 U.S. at 720,
When, however, enforcement of a restriction against the
litigant prevents a third party from entering into a
The “local” attorney admission rules for the 93 United
States District Courts generally fall into three categories. The
first category authorizes general admission reciprocity to all
licensed sister-state attorneys.’ Petitioners do not challenge the
“local” rules of these 29 District Courts. The second category is
exemplified by the “local” rule of the United States District
_ Court for the District of Columbia.* This “local” rule is
challenged, and in pertinent part, declares out-of-state attorneys
get general admission reciprocity in the Federal District Court
for the District of Columbia, if District of Columbia local
federal bar members get general admission reciprocity in the
applicant’s hometown Federal District Court. The petitioners
were directly injured by this rule. The. trial Court denied
petitioners’ application to appear through their chosen counsel,
and refused to permit filing of their Complaint for almost two
months. Petitioners were required to prove they could not find
local lead counsel willing to champion this locally unpopular
federal claim. These challenged rules are not merely procedural
regulations, they impose substantive qualifications that
handicap the constitutional and statutory right to petition the
Federal District Courts.
The third category confines ge eneral admission to
members of the bar of the forum State.” The majority of local
attorney admission rules are in this challenged category. In the
third type, there is a sub-category. Three out of the four United
States District Courts for the Districts in California are in this
group. This putative fellowship not only confines general
admission to forum State attorneys, but goes further and
categorically forecloses even pro hac vice admission, if the
sister-state attorneys resides or works in the State of
relationship with the litigant (typically a contractual
relationship), to which relationship the third party has a
legal entitlement (typically a constitutional entitlement),
third-party standing has been held to exist.
> See App. Table p.20
* See App. Table 2 p. 20
* See APP. Table 3 p. 21
6
California.© These rules do not leave open any alternative
channel.
The petitioner instruments of justice are gagged and
categorically barred from associating and petitioning with their
clients regardless of individual merit or need, and thwarted
from championing locally unpopular causes in United States
District Courts that they pay for with their federal tax dollars.
Our Union cornerstones “all men are created equal,” and that
there shall be “no taxation without equal representation,” are
trampled by these challenged rules that either fully ban or
cripple access to United States District Courts.
3. The Decisions Below Ignore Material Facts That
Demonstrate The Challenged “Local” Rules Are
Arbitrary And Not Necessary, And They Prostrate The
Standard Of Review This Court Applied In Frazier v.
Heebe |
This Court in Frazier v. Heebe, supra, 482 U.S. 641 (1987),
in exercising its supervisory powers, over challenged Louisiana
Federal District Court local rules, applied a two pronged
heightened scrutiny “rational and necessary” standard of
review. This Court held, “We find both [local rule]
requirements to be unnecessary and irrational.” Jd. at 646. This
Court reasoned, “Complete exclusion is unnecessary.” Jd. at —
648. There is obviously no “necessary” prong in rational basis
review.
This Court, as a matter of law, as previously mentioned
held, “the location of a lawyer's office simply has nothing to do
with his or her intellectual ability or experience in litigating
cases in Federal District Court.” Jd. at 649. This Court also
recognized that, “Rules that discriminate against nonresident
attorneys are even more difficult to justify in the context of
federal court practice than they are in the area of state court
practice, where laws and procedures may differ substantially
from State to State.” Frazier v. Heebe, 482 U.S. at 647 n. 7.
And, “There is a growing body of specialized federal law and a
more mobile federal bar, accompanied by an increased demand
® See App. Table 4 p. 22
-
for specialized legal services regardless of state boundaries.”
Ibid.
Initially, the trial Court Opinion flagrantly misstates the
central facts. It states incorrectly that there is no federal
discrimination because,
“Under the local rules challenged here, all
lawyers of all states are presumably required
to be members in good standing of the bar of
- the state in which the federal court sits.”
(emphasis in original) (App. p. 9)
This factual conclusion is untrue and bizarre; 29 federal
district courts have adopted “local” rules that were cited to the
trial judge that extend equal Privileges and Immunities, equal
First Amendment freedoms, equal Full Faith and Credit, and
general admission to all sister-state attorneys in good standing.
Likewise, it is hard to fathom any “presumption” in the “you
get reciprocity if we get reciprocity” challenged Federal District
of Columbia local rule.
The decisions below, if truth and honesty is permitted,
also whitewash facts that show that there is not any reasonable
“competence” or “ethical” justification that would warrant
categorical forum State membership as an_ essential
precondition to Federal District Court general admission.
As to “competence,” Congress, in enacting 5 U.S.C. §
500 (App. p. 18) and in ratifying national appellate rule FRAP
46 (App. p. 18) has explicitly declared the necessary
qualifications and preconditions for practice before federal
administrative agencies and in the United States Courts of
Appeal. Membership in the bar of any single State is not an
essential precondition. The doors of these federal fountains of
justice are open to attorneys from every State. In a word, these
Acts of Congress and national rules extend equal First
Amendment freedoms, equal Privileges and Immunities, and
equal “Full Faith and Credit.”
As noted by this Court in Frazier v. Heebe, federal
jurisdiction does not stop at the State boundary. Federal
substantive law and procedure is uniform, supreme, and has
little to do with the law of any single State except in diversity
cases. Even in diversity cases, federal procedure is applicable,
8
and there can be a question of which State’s law should be
applied. Petitioners’ specialized area of federal practice, in
general, is not even tested on a bar exam. More particularly,
studies by the United States Judicial Conference indicate that
there is a direct competence correlation with experience, and
the best measure of competence is experience.
These facts illustrate there is no “competence”
justification that would warrant the categorical granting of
general admission privileges to newly minted attomeys forum
State attorneys, and categorical rejecting of general admission
privileges to experienced federal practice attorneys licensed
outside the forum State. Experienced federal practice attorneys
do not present a “clear and present danger” that would justify
these “local” rule prior restraints in a federal public forum.
There is also no reasonable “ethical” justification that
would warrant forum State bar membership as a categorical
precondition for district court admission. The material facts
whitewashed are as follows:
e This Court has squarely held geographical isolation or
difficulty in policing a nationwide bar membership does not
justify discrimination in bar admission. See Barnard v.
Thorstenn, 482 U.S. 546 (1989)
e This Court has squarely held an aitorney’s opportunity to
practice law is constitutionally protected Privilege and
Immunity, and there is no reason to presume or conclude an
out-of-state attorney will conduct his practice in a dishonest
manner. Barnard v. Thorstenn; Supreme Court of New
Hampshire v. Piper 470 U.S. 274 (1985).
” “(N)o one has yet devised an examination which will test one’s ability to
be a courtroom advocate.” See Report and Tentative Recommendations of
the Committee to Practice in the Federal Courts in the Judicial Conference
of the United States. 79 F.R.D: 187, 196. “Lawyers with previous trial
experience are much more likely to turn in very good performances, and it
permits the inference that experience improves the quality of trial
performance.” /d. at 196. There is a correlation between the quality of trial
performance and the prior experience of the attorneys evaluated. 83 F.R.D.
at 222.
ae
e Federal courts are prohibited from relying conclusively on
State findings as the basis for attorney discipline. See
Federal Judicial Center, Manual for Cooperation Between
State and Federal Courts (1997) p. 78-79 (citing the Theard
doctrine, which holds although attorneys may be admitted
via the State, they are not necessarily automatically
terminated through the same channel).
e Even assuming the District Court wanted to reftr the
attorney to the forum State for ethical investigation, most
States claim ethical jurisdiction over any attorney who
works within the State, even if he or she is not locally
admitted. For example, under California Rule of
Professional Conduct 1-100 (D)(2)* (enacted in 1992), the
State Bar of California has jurisdiction over any sister-state
attorney working in California regardless of whether he or
she is admitted in California.
e Likewise, the law is clear that a State has ethical jurisdiction over
all of its attorneys regardless of where they work. See U.S. v.
Ferguson, 54 F.3d 825 (D.C. Cir. 1995)(holding New Mexico
ethics rule applies to a licensed New Mexico attorney working as
an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C.) Therefore, the
licensing State also has ethical jurisdiction regardless of the
geographical location where the attorney is working.
e In Keller v. State Bar of California, 496 U.S. 1, 13 (1990),
this Court, in 4 unanimous decision, held the State Bar of
California was equivalent to a “labor union,” and that it had
violated its members First Amendment rights.
Subsequently, the entire State Bar of California discipline
staff was shut down and sent home for wide spread abuse
and criminal lobbying. It is plainly irrational for “local”
rules to condition membership on a “labor union” that has
been shut down for ethical violations, and also has been
held by a 9-0 vote to have trespassed its members First
Amendment rights.
* “As to lawyers from other jurisdictions who are not members: These rules
shall also govern the activities of lawyers while engaged in the performance
of lawyer function in this state.”
10
Furthermore, the decisions appealed also overlook the
purpose and effect of the challenged “local” rules is anti-
competitive. Economic protection is not a legitimate federal
governmental interest. The District of Columbia local rule, i.e.,
you get reciprocity if we get reciprocity, demonstrates the sole
justification for this rule is private gain and economic
protection. A desire to grant a monopoly to members of the
local bar is an illegitimate justification. See FTC v. Superior
Court Trial Lawyers Assn. 493 U.S. 411 (1989)
“(U)itimately competition will produce not
only lower prices, but also better goods and
services.’ National Society of Professional
Engineers v. United States, 435 S. 679, 695
(1978). This judgment ‘recognizes that all
elements of a bargain — quality, service,
safety, and durability — and not just the
immediate cost, are favorably affected by
the free opportunity to select among
alternative offers." Trial Lawyers, supra,
493 U.S. at 423.
“That is equally so when the quality of legal
advocacy rather, than engineering design, is
at issue.” Jd. at 424.
The unreported trial Court decision and the one
paragraph Court of Appeals Judgment also cast aside this
Court’s application of the “rational and necessary” standard of
review. Instead, the trial Court applied the pure rational basis
standard. It is self-evident this Court applied a heightened
scrutiny “rational and necessary” standard, and not a rational
basis standard. First, as noted above, there is no “necessary”
prong in rational basis review. Second, Frazier v. Heebe was
also filed under the First Amendment. /d. at 643 n. 1. This
Court never reached the constitutional questions. Had this
Court reached the constitutional questions, it would have been
constrained to apply the strict scrutiny standard. The First
Amendment in plain and unmistakable language makes clear
the freedoms to speak as one chooses, and to associate with
li
whom one chooses, and to petition the Government for redress
of grievances — withdraws the entire subject from the national
authority. It is axiomatic that governmental interference in the
guaranteed First Amendment freedoms to speech, association,
and petition are subject to strict scrutiny review. Moreover, if
rational basis review were applicable, the Bill of Rights could
be swallowed whole anytime the government chooses. The Bill
of Rights would be nothing but a solemn mockery. Yesierday’s
newspapers would have the same force as our Constitution.
Petitioners submit the challenged rules that ban or
handicap access to United States Courts cannot pass the
“rational and necessary” standard of review articulated by this
Court in Frazier v. Heebe, 482 U.S. at 646, and they are thus
unlawful. In an era of a global economy, multi-jurisdictional
practice of law, mobile federal practice specialists, computers,
e-mail, and electronic information, the challenged rules are as
out of place as racial prejudice and courtroom spittoons.
4. The Decision Appealed Ignores Public Testimony That
Vilifies The Subject “Local” Rules By Respected Arms
Of The Bar: The Rules Are A Living Monument To The
Pre-Brown v. Board of Education Era of Jurisprudence
Many respected commentators have publicly declared
that the local attorney monopoly provided by the challenged
local district court rules stain the integrity of federal bench and
bar — and should be eliminated. The American Bar
Association has officially recommended a policy of reciprocal
admission in the federal district court. The ABA House of
Delegates, almost five years ago in 1995, adopted the following
formal conclusion and resolution #8: °
CONCLUSION — Given the global nature
of law practice today, parochial local rules
are inefficient, unduly costly to clients
and/or lawyers and anti-competitive.
BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the American
Bar Association supports efforts to lower
barriers to practice before U.S. District
12
Courts based on state bar membership by
eliminating state bar membership
requirements in cases in U.S. District
Courts, through amendment of the Federal
Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure to
prohibit such local rules.”
This ABA House of Delegates resolution was served on
the respondent United States Judicial Conference and
accompanied by a report from Donna A. Killoughey, Chair of
the ABA Section of Law Practice Management. The report
emphasizes that local rules that require forum State bar
membership as a condition to admission in the U.S. District
Court are an “exclusionary and anti-competitive practice” that
“inhibits competition, restricts lawyers from representing
clients without incurring substantial cost of local counsel and
drives up costs to clients.”'° There has been no Judicial
Conference action taken with reference to this ABA
recommendation that calls for amending these rules. Except,
perhaps for filing it underneath the CHIEF JUSTICE’S (8-1)
dissenting opinion in Supreme Court of New Hampshire v.
Piper, 470 U.S. 274 (1985). It is further widely reported in the
legal newspapers the CHIEF JUSTICE hates his administrative
duties with the Judicial Conference. There has been no
publication of this proposed rule or opportunity to comment,
which petitioners submit is a violation of the Judicial
Conferences rules. Defense counsel below admitted that no
action has been taken on the ABA’s recommendation.
The National Bankruptcy Review Commission,
established by the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994, has
officially recommended national lawyer admission in
bankruptcy courts.
Professor Charles Wolfram, the Reporter for the
American Law Institute, concludes, “[T]o an observer,
membership in the bar of the federal courts looks like the work
* See Judicial Conference, Working Papers of the Committee on Rules of
Practice and Procedure (Sep. 97) p. 37
Ibid.
13
of petty fiefdoms of medieval Europe . . . Someday, sensibly
admission to the federal courts will be federal in nature.”
Wolfram, Modern Legal Ethics (1986), § 15.2.4 p. 853. See
also New York County Lawyers’ Association Report Of The
Committee On The Federal Courts On Pro hac vice Admissions
To the Federal Courts 169 F.R.D. 390, 415 (1997)
Conclusion: Stunning changes in technology and the
increasingly national scope of federal practice have
made the Association Rule an expensive and
burdensome anachronism. Too many litigants and
attorneys no longer recall the origina) reasons for the
rule which now appears to many to be nothing more
than judicially-sanctioned feather-bedding. These
‘territorial restrictions ‘on interdistrict competition
among attorneys’ which unjustifiably increase the cost
of legal_services to consumers by compelling
unnecessary retention of additional lawyers’ must be
eliminated. The Association Rule gives rise to criticism
by the general public about the legal process and clearly
injures the image of both the bench and bar. For too
long the legal community has not heeded the need for
change. The case for eliminating the Association Rule is
presently overwhelming. The time to act is now.
(emphasis added)
The above comments denouncing the challenging local
rules are just the tip of an iceberg of opposition by respected
commentators and practicing specialists in federal law. The
non-published one paragraph Judgment whitewashes these
public testimonials by respected integral arms of the profession.
This dysfunctional judicial decision-making stems from the
recognition that the legal questions presented in this case are
best addressed and answered by this Honorable Court.
Additionally, as stated by Justice Oliver Wendell Homes, Jr.,
“jt is in the nature of man’s mind. A thing which you have
enjoyed and used as your own for a long time, whether property
or an opinion, takes root in your being and cannot be torn away
14
without your resenting the act and trying to defend yourself,
however you came by it.””'
The challenged rooted rules, however, are the offspring
of the most reviled decisions in the history of this Court. In
Dred Scott v. Sandford 60 U.S. (19 Howard) 393 (1856) it was
held the “privileges and immunities” guaranteed to all citizens
of the United States do not apply to Negroes. Accordingly,
Dred Scott, who was born a Negro slave, was not permitted the
“privilege and- immunity” under the Constitution to sue in the
courts of Missouri. In Bradwell v. Illinois 83 U.S. (16 Wall)
130 (1872), this Court held a State could refuse to admit a
woman to the practice of law solely because of her sex. A
concurring opinion of three Justices pointed to the differences
between a male and female which proved conclusively that the
right to practice law could not be claimed as a fundamental
“privilege or immunity.” Jd. at 141-142. “[T]he paramount
destiny and mission of a woman are to fulfil (sic) the noble and
benign offices of wife and mother. This is the law of the
Creator. And the rules of civil society must be adapted to the
general constitution of things.” J/bid. Likewise, In re
Lockwood, 154 U.S. 116 (1894), Belva Lockwood, an
experienced female attorney, was denied admission to practice
in the State of Virginia despite a statute which authorized
admission to the bar of any person who had been admitted to
the bar of another state. Following Bradwell, the Court held
admission to practice law was not a “privilege or immunity”
protected by the Constitution. These holdings are obviously
from another era. The challenged local rules, however afford
the petitioners the same constitutional rights as Dred Scott and
Belva Lockwood. While these reviled Supreme Court decisions
have been overturned, the challenged local rules remain as the
putative federal law.
Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson has been quoted,
“the fact is the most important part of a judge’s work is the
exercise of judgment and that the law in a court is never better
than the common sense judgment of the judge that is
'! The Essential Holmes p. 176 (edited by Richard A. Posner)(1992)
15
presiding.”'? It follows then that the law applied in the Federal
District Court can never be better than the judgments of this
Honorable Court. Thus, petitioners submit this Court should
grant certiorari review and answer the questions presented.
5. The Decision Appealed Flies In The Face Of The
Statutory Standard of Review For Local Rules
Proscribed by 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071-72
After this Court’s decision in Frazier v. Heebe,
Congress subsequently (in 1988) substantially rewrote the law
applicable to Federal District Court “local” rules. Congress
proscribed an even more rigorous and exacting standard of
review. As a result of the widespread Opposition to the
proliferation of balkanized “local” district court rules, Congress
enacted Title IV of the 1988 Judicial Improvements and Access
to Justice Act (Pub.L. 100-702). That law entirely revised 28
U.S.C. §§ 331, 332, 2071-2077. Congress found that there was
“a proliferation of local rules, many of which conflict with the
national rules of general applicability.” See generally Siegel,
Commentary on 1988 Revision (text after 28 U.S.C.A. 2071) p.
520-23. The main Congressional objections to the “local” rule
making process was that they were often enacted without public
notice or opportunity to comment from anyone other than the
local bar; and there was virtually no opportunity for judicial
review, as the judges who make the rules determine whether
they are lawful. An affirmative mandatory supervisory
obligation was placed on the respondents to periodically review
all local rules to “for consistency with federal law,” and to
promote uniformity of procedures, and the expeditious conduct
of court business. 28 U.S.C. § 331; See also 28 U.S.C. §
332(d)(4). There is no such thing as a rule becoming sacrosanct
merely for having passed judicial council scrutiny the first time.
(text after 28 U.S.C.A. 2071 at 522). It is subject to on-going
scrutiny, as are all rules in existence on December 31, 1988.
Ibid.
As rewritten and effective January 1, 1989, 28 U.S.C. §
2071(a) provides,
'? Eugene C. Gerhart, America’s Advocate: Robert Jackson, p. 59.
16
The Supreme Court and ail courts
established by Act of Congress may from
time to time prescribe rules for the conduct
of their business. Such [local] rules shall be
consistent with Acts of Congress and rules
of practice and procedure under Section
2072 of this title. (Emphasis added)
28 U.S.C. § 2072 (b) [also incorporated in 28 U.S.C. §
207 l(a) by reference] in pertinent part provides,
Such [local] rules shall not abridge, enlarge
or modify any substantive right. (Emphasis
added)
“Shall” means mandatory. There is no room for the exercise of
discretion. The Congressional limit on power to adopt “local”
rules makes perfect sense. Congress and the President in our
tripartite republican system have the power to make the law.
They stand for reelection and answer to the people. The role of
federal judges is not to legislate, but to decide cases and
controversies. In making “local” rules, Congress, by statute, has
expressly preempted and deliberately curtailed the rule making
authority of District Judges. It is plain these balkanized
hodgepodge rules offend the intent of Congress to promote
federal uniformity. Likewise, according to the Great Chief
Justice John Marshall “the judicial opinions of all parts of the
Union should be the same.” 8 The Papers of John Marshall
148-49 (Chapel Hill: U. N.C. Press, 1995)
A. The Decision Appealed Is Fundamentally Flawed As
The Challenged Local Rules Abridge, Enlarge, And
Modify Constitutionally Protected Privileges and
Immunities
In Supreme Court of New Hampshire v. Piper, supra, 470
U.S. 274 (1985), this Court held an attorney’s opportunity to
practice law is a “fundamental right” for a variety of reasons.
The Court, in applying the strict scrutiny standard of review,
explained:
17
The lawyer's role in the national economy is
not the only reason that the opportunity to
practice law should be considered a
"fundamental right." We believe that the
legal profession has a noncommercial role
and duty that reinforce the view that the
practice of law falls within the ambit of the
Privileges and Immunities Clause.[fnl 1]
Out-of-state lawyers may - and often do -
represent persons who raise unpopular
federal claims. In some cases, representation
by nonresident counsel may be the only
means available for the vindication of
- federal rights.'?
The 14" Amendment also has a textual Privileges and
Immunities Clause. If an attorney’s opportunity to practice law
is constitutionally protected by Article IV § 2 Privileges and
Immunity, it follows an attorney’s opportunity to practice law is
also incorporated and equally protected by the 14° Amendment
Privileges and Immunities Clause. This Court in Saenz v. Roe,
526 U.S. 489 (1999) crushed the fiction arising from the 1870
Slaughterhouse Cases'‘ there was a constitutional difference
between Article IV § 2 Privileges and Immunities and 14”
Amendment Privileges and Immunities. If the States cannot
discriminate against citizens and residents concerning
constitutionally protected Privileges and Immunities under the
14" Amendment, it follows that neither can District Judges.
This Court has repeatedly held that even Congress cannot
abridge 14 Amendment protections. The constitutional norm
under the Privileges and Immunities Clause is comity. Austin v.
New Hampshire, 402 U.S. 656 (1975).
The challenged “local” rules dishonor the norm of comity
made mandatory by the “shall be consistent” language of 28
U.S.C. § 2071(a), and are thus unlawful. These challenged rules
further contravene 28 U.S.C. § 2072(b) as they abridge and
modify the Privileges and Immunities of out-of-state bar
'3 Td. at 281
* 16 Wall (83 U.S.) 36 1873
18
members, and enlarge the Privileges and Immunities of forum
State bar members. The District of Columbia rule, i.e. you get
reciprocity, if we get reciprocity — abridges, enlarges, and
modifies constitutionally protected Privileges and Immunities
in one stroke. The First Amendment freedoms are also
constitutionally protected Privileges and Immunities.
B. The Decision Appealed Is Fundamentally Flawed As
The Challenged Local Rules Abridge, Enlarge, And
Modify The First Amendment Freedoms To Speech,
Association, And Petition For Redress Of Grievances In
A Public Forum
The First Amendment freedoms are modified and
infringed by the challenged local rules. Obviously, the privilege
to petition the Federal District Court is not free, as only forum
State attorneys are entitled to petition, and the attorneys from
49 States have to pay these attorneys a royalty fee to obtain
limited partial petition rights. The local rules are statutorily
unlawful as they enlarge the First Amendment rights of forum
State attorneys, and modify and abridge the First Amendment
rights of out-of-State attorneys. The same holds true with
litigants who also have a First Amendment right to associate
and petition.
The home-town decisions below also fail to examine or
adhere to this Court’s First Amendment jurisprudence. The
subject trinity of sacred freedoms encompasses both protected
expression and conduct in a public federal forum. The First
Amencment reflects “a profound national commitment to the
principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited,
robust, and wide-open.” New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376
U.S. 254, 270 (1964). The First Amendment is a prized
American privilege to speak one's mind in all public
institutions, and it includes the opportunity for vigorous
advocacy. Id. at 269 The government can exclude a speaker
from a traditional public forum, "only when the exclusion is
necessary to serve a compelling state interest and the exclusion
is narrowly drawn to achieve that interest." Cornelius v.
NAACP Legal Defense & Ed. Fund, Inc., 473 U.S. 788, 800
(1985). In the realm of private speech or expression,
government regulation may not favor one speaker over another.
19
Members of City-Council of Los Angeles v. T, axpayers for
Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 804 (1984).
It is difficult to fathom any rights with more
constitutional protection than the trinity of separate and
cumulative First Amendment freedoms asserted in this Petition;
and petitioners’ clients’ First Amendment freedoms asserted via
third party standing. The challenged local rules plainly
encumber the First Amendment freedoms. The challenged local
rules are plainly not “uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.” The
decisions below rocket over these issues, and do not even
address the association, petition, and third-party issues.
Last term, in United States v. Playboy Entertainment
Group, Inc., 529 U.S. ____ (2000), this Court struck down a
Congressional statute that required cable television operators
who provide channels primarily dedicated to sexually oriented
programs either to fully scramble or otherwise block those
channels or to limit their transmission to hours when children
are unlikely to be viewing. All nine justices agreed that the
speech involved was defined by its contents, and the challenged
law was a “content” based restriction. That is the speech
involved applies only to channels dedicated to “sexually
explicit adult programming or other programming as defined as
indecent.” All nine justices agreed that the standard of review
was strict scrutiny, including the less restrictive alternative test,
and that the government had the burden of proof. The Court
split as to whether that strict scrutiny test had been met. As
stated in the majority opinion, “Laws designed or intended to
suppress or restrict ific ers contradict basic First
Amendment principles.” (emphasis added) Jd. at _. In other
words, as again elucidated in Playboy, the First Amendment
applies to the message and the messenger. Speaker
discrimination is a son of “content” discrimination. The
challenged rules are content and speaker discrimination as they
are “designed or intended to suppress or restrict specific
speakers” /bid., like petitioners and others similarly situated. As
such, the challenged rules “contradicts basic First Amendment
principles.” bid. It is plain that if restrictions placed on
sexually explicit programming must pass strict scrutiny review,
restrictions placed on petitioner members of the bar must also
pass strict scrutiny review.
20
Petitioners’ submit these challenged local general
admission rules are “overbroad.” They constitute either
“speaker discrimination” or “viewpoint discrimination.” Only
local attorneys are fully privileged to speak or state their views.
The petitioners do not present a “clear and present danger” that
would justify this kind of “speaker discrimination” and “prior
restraint” in a public federal forum.
Additionally, last term in California Democratic Party
v. Jones, 530 U.S. __ (2000), this Court held that California’s
blanket primary violates the political party’s First Amendment
right of association. There, as in this petition, the challenged
local rules force petitioners to adulterate their selection process,
by forcing association to persons otherwise unaffiliated, and
this compelled association is unlawful as it changes the party’s
intended message and messenger.
Similarly, last term in Boys Scouts of America v. Dale,
530 U.S. ___ (2000), this Court held New Jersey’s public
accommodation law that supported a gay scoutmaster violated
the Boys Scouts’ First Amendment right of expressive
association. This opinion written by CHIEF JUSTICE
REHNQUIST reaffirmed the principle that forced membership
is unconstitutional if the person’s presence affects in a
significant way the group’s ability to advocate public or private
viewpoints. In the instant petition, the challenged local rules
affect in a significant way both the petitioners’ ability to
advocate public or private viewpoints, and their First
Amendment rights to associate and petition for redress of
grievances. Following California Democratic Party and Boy
Scouts the challenged local rule forced association and petition
is unlawful, because the rules cannot pass a narrowly tailored
compelling state interest test. CHIEF JUSTICE
REHNQUIST’S majority opinion in Boy Scouts is
irreconcilable with the putative defense of the challenged local
rules asserted by his counsel.
Additionally, this Court in First Amendment
jurisprudence, in conjunction with the Equal Protection Clause,
has ruled that classifications that discriminate in the ability to
exercise First Amendment rights are not subject to rational
review, but instead are subject to strict scrutiny review. Police
Dept. of Chicago v. Mosley, 408 U.S. 92 (1972). The
challenged local rules discriminate in the ability to exercise
\
21
First Amendment rights because forum State attorneys can
speak (advocate), associate with whom they choose, and
petition on behalf of their clients and associates, and other
federal practice specialists from outside the forum State cannot.
Following Mosley, once a forum is opened up to assembly or
speaking by some favored members of the bar, government
may not prohibit others members of the bar from assembling or
speaking or petitioning, without passing a strict scrutiny
standard of review.
The suggestion petitioners can associate and petition in
other public forums and federal courtrooms, they just cannot
associate and petition in the subject district courts, shrinks
petitioners, as well as their client’s and associate’s, most sacred
First Amendment rights — into cheap trinkets. One is not to
have the exercise of his liberty of expression in appropriate
places abridged on the plea that it may be exercised in some
other place. See Schneider v. United States, 308 U.S. 147, 163
(1939). This Court has “consistently refused to overlook an
unconstitutional restriction upon some First Amendment
activity simply because it leaves other First Amendment
activity unimpaired.” California Democratic Party, supra, 530
US.at__.
Petitioners submit the challenged local rules cannot pass
Statutory review because they modify and enlarge First
Amendment rights. The challenged local rules also cannot pass
First Amendment strict scrutiny review.
C. The Decision Appealed Is Fundamentally Flawed As
The Challenged Local Rules Abridge, Enlarge, And
Modify Rights Protected By The Supremacy Clause
The decisions below conspicuously fail to address the
petitioners’ argument that the subject local rules violate the
Supremacy Clause. In McCullough v. Maryland,'* it was held
the Supremacy Clause precludes a state from levying a tax on
the operations of the United States government. This Court has
held that “possessions, institutions and activities of the Federal
Government itself in the absence of congressional consent are
not subject to any form of state taxation.”'® Congress has
'S17US. (4 Wheat) 316 (1819)
'® United States v. Allegheny County, 322 U.S. 164, 176 (1944)
22
specifically declared in 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071-72 that “local” rules
shall be consistent with national rules and Acts of Congress.
The privilege to use federal administrative agencies and
appellate courts are not conditioned on the payment of local bar
user fees. The challenged “local” rules violate the Supremacy
Clause because they condition the privilege to petition the
federal district court on the payment of local bar taxes. Local
Federal District Judges in the absence of Congressional
authorization do not have the authority to “tax” or place any
encumbrance on the use of the federal courthouse. Federal
District Courts obviously do not have the right to condition
federal bar membership on owning local property in the forum
State. It follows then, that the challenged local rules, which add
forum State conditions to exercise federal rights, violate the
Supremacy Clause.
D. The Decision Appealed Is Fundamentally Flawed As
The Challenged Local Rules Are Inconsistent With 5
U.S.C § 500, FRAP 46, And Title VII
The challenged local rules that confine bar admission to
lawyers of one State, or some other limited reciprocity, are
further inconsistent with numerous other Congressional
statutes. Neither 5 U.S.C § 500(b) nor FRAP 46(a) restrict bar
membership to the tawyers of any one State. Instead, as the
Constitution is color blind, Congress has affirmatively opened
the doors to the federal court to merit and bar members from
each and every State.
The challenged Federal District Court local rules are
inconsistent with 5 U.S.C § 500 and FRAP 46 because they add
substantive qualifications that were not imposed by Congress. It
is plain that “local” rules cannot lawfully add conditions to
those expressly stated by Congress. In U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v.
Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995), the State of Arkansas attempted
to impose term limits on federal elected officials. This Court
held the State, even by way of State constitutional amendment,
does not have the power to directly or indirectly add to the
qualifications prescribed in the Constitution. By parallel
reasoning, it follows Federal District Court local rules cannot
add to, or modify, the norm of comity expressly prescribed by
Congress in enacting 5 U.S.C. 500 and in affirming national
rule FRAP 46.
23
Congress, in enacting 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071-72, has
expressly stripped district court judges of the ability to modify
its Acts. The Congressional mandate is that “local” rules shall
be consistent with Acts of Congress and the national rules of
practice and procedure.” Thus, the challenged local rules are
statutorily unlawful as they add and modify qualifications to
those expressly declared by Congress, and they enlarge the
substantive rights of forum State attorneys.
The challenged rules further trespass the Title VII
Regulations. Contrary to the conclusion of the trial Court, Title
VII is applicable to all federal licensing. Congress, acting
through the E.E.O.C., has specifically concluded that there is a
need for uniform federal selection in licensing and
certification.'’ An express Congressional purpose of Title VII is
2 apply to federal licensing.'® Title VII applies to any selection
for any employment, membership or licensing
decision.” Under Title VII Part 1607, when two or more
selection procedures apply, and are available for the same
purpose, the selection procedure that is the least restrictive
alternative applies.” Title VII is interpreted broadly | to reach all
disparate or unequal treatment selection procedures.”' The local
rules for admission obviously concern federal licensing and
certification. There is no business necessity for the challenged
disparate federal licensing procedures. The decisions below, by
preconceived design, whitewash all of this law without any
explanation. There is not an atom of difference between
admission rules and federal licensing opportunities that
discriminate based on outdated notions of race or gender, and
the challenged local rules that stereotype based on outdated
notions of which State in our nation the attorney originates.
'” See App. Table 5 p 22. ; 29 CRF § 1607-UNIFORM GUIDELINES ON
EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCEDURES (1978); 29 CRF § 1607.1
Statement of purpose.
'§ See App. Table 5 p. 23 ; 29 CRF § 1607.1 B -- Purpose of guidelines.
'? See App. Table 5 p. 23 ; 29 CRF § 1607.2 B -- -- Employment decisions
0 See App. Table 5 p 24 ; 29 CRF § 1607.3 Discrimination defined.-
Relationship between use of selection procedures and discrimination.
B. Consideration of suitable alternative selection procedures.
2! See App. Table 5 p. 23 ; 29 CRF § 1607-11 Disparate treatment,
24
6. The Trial Court’s Application Of The Rational Basis
Standard of Review Is Clearly Erroneous, And The
Decision Appealed Relies On Law That Is Not Relevant
Or Is Facially Flawed
The only Supreme Court decision the trial Court relied upon
was Leis v. Flynt, 439 U.S. 438, 443 (1979), recognizing “The
Constitution does not require that because a lawyer has been
admitted in one state; he or she must be allowed to practice in
another.” (App. p. 9) Leis v. Flynt is not applicable, however,
because it was not decided under the First Amendment, the
Sixth Amendment, or the Privileges and Immunities Clauses.
Leis v. Flynt is also inapplicable because it predates Supreme
Court of New Hampshire v. Piper, Frazier v. Heebe, and the
1988 Judicial Improvements Act. Moreover, Leis v. Flynt has
been overruled sub silentio in virtually every circuit.“ This
Court has also subsequently squarely held it is unconstitutional
to grant an official “unfettered discretion to deny a permit
application.” City of Lakewood v. Plain Dealers Publishing
Company 486 U.S. 750, 108 S.Ct. 2138, 2152 (1988) In
essence, JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS dissent in Leis v.
Flynt, has in 21 years superceded the majority.
Additionally, the First Amendment, Supremacy Clause,
and 1988 Judicial Improvement Act claims presented in this
case are one of first impression. The subject Federal District
Court rules have never been challenged or examined in light of
these claims by any federal court anywhere in a published
decision. The trial Court summarily dismissed these claims by
applying a rational basis standard of review: Despite the
obvious fact that rational basis standard of review flies in the
” See U.S. v. Childress, 58 F.3d 693, 736 (D.C.Cir. 1995)(“The deprivation
of his counsel of choice would entitle [petitioner] to a reversal of his
conviction as a matter of constitutional right.) Accord United States v. Ries,
100 F.3d 1469 (9" Cir. 1996) cert. denied. 117 S.Ct. 2526 (1997)(held a
defendant’s right to the counsel of his choice includes the right to have an
out-of-state lawyer admitted pro hac vice.”); Schlumberger Technologies,
Inc. v. Wiley, 113 F.3d 1553 (11® Cir. 1997)(held binding circuit precedent
requires a showing of unethical conduct of such a nature as to justify
disbarment of a lawyer admitted generally to the bar of the district court in
order to justify the denial of an applicant's pro hac vice admission.)
25
teeth of the “shall be consistent,” and “shall not abridge,
modify, or enlarge” conditions made mandatory by 28 U.S.C.
§§ 2071-72. The rational basis standard for local rules has been
supplanted and expressly preempted by Congress: Not to
mention the Constitution.
The trial Court also applied the rational basis standard, and
departed from the heightened scrutiny applied in Piper and
Frazier, based on the decision in Giannini v. Real, 911 F.2d
354 (9° Cir. 1990) cert. denied 498 U.S. 1012, (1991), and
other similar earlier circuit court decisions. The trial Court’s
ostrich like reliance on Giannini v. Real, cited ten times as the
basis for this decision, is misplaced for several reasons. That
decision entered ten years ago, was not argued or decided under
the First Amendment, Supremacy Clause, or the arguments
submitted in this case. That case was decided before Saenz, and
not under the 14" Amendment Privileges and Immunities.
There would never be any advance in civil rights law if Courts
did not incorporate the most recent decisions in their analysis;
or if attorneys upon losing a case were thereafter barred from
arguing a similar case.
Equally important, Giannini v. Real, is facially wrongly
decided. This case was decided on May 8, 1990, yet it cites the
outdated law, as it existed prior to the 1988 amendments to 28
U.S.C. § 2071-72. See 911 F.2d at 360 where the Ninth Circuit,
in Section B, analyzes the issue under the Rules of the Supreme
Court. Compare that to 28 U.S.C.A. § 2071 and the
immediately following Commentary on 1988 Revision by the
reporter David D. Siegel, p. 521; is
“. . in the 1988 amendment and its reference
to the Supreme Court in the second sentence
was struck out and a reference to § 2072
substituted. The change . . .adopted with the
district courts primarily in mind, requires
rules promulgated on the authority of § 2071
to conform to the requirements of § 2072
instead of merely to rules promulgated by
the Supreme Court.”
There is an enormous difference between the law as
amended effective January 1, 1989, both in language and intent,
26
and the prior law denounced by Congress that was relied upon
by the Ninth Circuit. (And again below.) This Ninth Circuit
misfeasance in relying on the outdated law in 1990 that
Congress expressly disapproved and denounced by enacting a
plethora of statutory revisions proves beyond any doubt that
Giannini v. Real was wrongly decided and it is not applicable to
the instant case in view of the 1988 Amendments to 28 U.S.C
§§2071-72. In a word, the decision in Giannini v. Real, is not
only factually and legally distinguishable, it was facially flawed
and outdated the day it was filed.
ARGUMENT
The Court Should Exercise Its Supervisory Power And
Grant Review Because The Judgment Entered Without
An Opinion Undermines The Integrity Of The Federal
Bench And Bar, And This Case Presents An Important
Question Of Federal Law That Cannot Go Unanswered
Without Causing Further Litigation And Attack On The
Federal Judiciary
Review should be granted as the questions presented in
this case concern a usurpation of the Congressionally required
uniformity with insidious encroachments on the cornerstones
our American birthrights. These founding first principles
include: all men and women are created equal; there shall be no
taxation without equal representation; that our Union is one of
checks and balances; that each citizen shall be free to speak and
advocate as he thinks and to associate with whom he chooses,
and shall be entitled to equal privileges; that the government _
shall not interfere with the people’s sacred right to petition the
government for redress of grievances; that merit not special
privileges will be its guiding principle; that our government is
of the people, for the people, and by the people — and not one of
special interests. ;
Each and every one of these founding principles is
being shorn by the challenged rules. Attorneys are not treated
equally. Petitioners pay with their federal tax dollars for the
federal courts, and the justice dispensed therein, yet they are
denied the right to equal representation and participation. They
are denied the equal privilege to check and balance the
27
pestilential growth of local partisan privileges. The challenged
rules grant special privileges not equal privileges. Merit is not
the touchstone. Local primogeniture is the touchstone.
This Court has already stated the challenged federal
rules are “difficult to justify.” Thirteen years ago, this Court
recognized that, “Rules that discriminate against nonresident
attorneys are even more difficult to justify in the context of
federal court practice than they are in the area of state court
practice, where laws and procedures may differ substantially
from State to State.” Frazier vy. Heebe, supra, 482 U.S. at 647
n. 7. At that time fax machines were just becoming popular and
the computer information age was in its infancy. By contrast, in
this new millennium, 24-7 instant DSL internet access to all
State and federal statutes, cases, rules, and regulations is
available by mouse point and click. Many commentators have
Suggested that the challenged “local” rules are “feather-
bedding” or from the “feudal” era and should be eliminated.
This Court should not continue to let a hardening of-the judicial
arteries sacrifice our citizens’ lifeblood in this electronic
information age.
This Court should further grant review as this Case is
based on a nationwide constitutional injury that breeds a
nationwide disrespect for the bench and bar. Petitioners, as
members of the bar have been received into that ancient
fellowship for something more than private gain. They have
conducted themselves professionally and honorably in
conformity with their obligation to champion locally unpopular
causes and vindicate federal rights. They validly could have
named each and every JUSTICE of this Court as a defendant in
this action. They chose to not embarrass this Court, and start an
ignoble precedent wherein Supreme Court JUSTICES are
named as supervisory defendants in federal district court local
tule challenges. The petitioners also have not yearned for the
occasion to sue the Judicial Conference or Judicial Circuits for
the opportunity to earn a living and compete in the race for life.
However, this is the year 2000. The petitioners are mobile
specialists in federal law. They have no other choice but to
seek the necessary reform other than by way of litigation. The
Judicial Conference doesn’t even have a proposed rule in the
pipeline, despite five years ago being notified of the need for
change by the American Bar Association. The secret decision
28
of the D.C. Circuit further illustrates that changes in “local”
rules are not going to by inade by local judges.
This Court should further grant review as the petitioners
have not been provided a full and fair opportunity to present
their case to an open forum. The petitioners requested and were
repeatedly denied the opportunity for oral argument in both the
trial and appellate courts. Even Dred Scott and Belva
Lockwood were given an opportunity to appear and be heard,
and to have their claims decided in a published decision. In this
case, Federal District Court rules that predate Brown v. Board
of Education have been rubber-stamped in a single paragraph,
without oral argument, and without a written appellate opinion.
This is a significant glaring departure from the rule of law that
warrants review.
This Court should grant review because its very purpose
is to provide a supreme judicature where error and local
partiality will ultimately be corrected. Harvard professor and
world-renowned scientist, Edward O. Wilson, in his book
CONSILIENCE — The Unity of Knowledge (1998 Vintage
Books), writes
Contract formation is more than a cultural
universal. It is a human trait as
characteristic of our species as language and
abstract thought, having been constructed
from both instinct and high intelligence. ...,
we know that contract formation is not
simply the product of a single rational
faculty. that operates equally across all
agreements made among bargaining parties.
Instead, one capacity, the detection of
cheating is developed to exceptional levels
of sharpness and rapid calculation. Cheater
detection stands out in acuity from mere
error detection and the assessment of
altruistic intent on the part of others. It is
furthermore triggered as a computation
procedure only when the cost and benefits of
a social contract are specified. More than
error, more than good deeds, and more even
than the margin of profit, the possibility of
29
cheating by others attracts attention. It
excites emotion and serves as the principal
source of hostile gossip and moralistic
aggression by which the integrity of the
political economy is maintained. Id. at 186-
87.
Petitioners, if truth and candor can be forgiven —
maintain the local rules as well as the secret decision appealed
— is cheating. This cheating is beneath the integrity of all
federal courts. Truth and justice are first principles in all human
affairs. The decision appealed is untrue and unjust because it
does not disclose or review the facts and law that have been
submitted. It has been said that injustice is of two kinds. One
kind is by those who directly commit an injustice. The second
is by those who have a duty to protect others from injustice, and
who shrink from that duty. Both of these injustices are merged
in the present petition. This is the very worst injustice because
when injustice occurs in the court, there is no justice. When
inequality occurs in the courts, there can be no equality. _-
This Court has a public trust: And by definition a
fiduciary duty. In the famous words of Justice Cardozo, “A
trustee is held to something stricter than the morals of the
market place. Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an honor
the most sensitive, is then the standard of behavior.” The
decision appealed cannot be cited as precedent because it is
nonpublished. These issues and the legal arguments submitted
are not going to magically disappear. In the words of President
Truman, “the buck should stop here” with this Honorable
Court, as this Court has the ultimate supervisory responsibility.
Counsel for CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST and the
respondents will request that this Honorable Court disregard its
public trust and deny review. Defense counsel’s request parsed
to its core is that this Court should continue the “code of
silence.” Defense counsel’s argument is the A.B.A.
endorsement of federal district court reciprocity, and the other
denunciations of the challenged “local” rules by respected arms
of the bar, need not be held up to the antiseptic noonday
sunlight of the public square. Defense counsel’s argument is
that this Court should place its respect for and friendship with
the CHIEF JUSTICE and its fellow judges above its oath of
30
office and the Constitution. Defense counsel’s argument, in
principle, is this Court should act as a Star-chamber; Judge
made rules like King made rules should be immune from
review.
This Court should reject defense counsel’s claims
because this case presents a pervasive inequality antithetical to
the core principles of our American creed. These questions cry
out for an answer by this Honorable Court. Petitioners submit,
additionally, that if their arguments are invalid, and this Court
believes the challenged rules should be affirmed, than this
Court should grant review and publish its reasons and holding.
This Court has an obligation to discharge its high duties
with such ability, firmness, and moderation, as to command the
respect, and retain the confidence of our nation. We must be
able to believe in the spotless purity of the judges of this sacred
tribunal. A failure to exercise this Court’s supervisory
responsibility is unthinkable as it will impair the dignity of this
Honorable Court, and foment further direct assault on this altar
of justice. If review is not granted, these claims will necessarily
be pressed with increased devotion and fervor. If review is not
granted, this Court will be affixing the seal of approval on
inherently unequal privileges, unequal First Amendment rights,
and secret decisions, when 220 years of judicial precedent
establish that secrecy is not congenial to truth-seeking, and that
no man can be a judge in his own case.
For all of the foregoing reasons, the Petitioners request
this Honorable Court grant certiorari review, emancipate
federal practice attorneys from the chains of slavery, and
invalidate Federal District Court local general admission rules
that do not cohere with 5 U.S.C. § 500(b) and FRAP 46(a).
Dated: July 24, 2000
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH R.GIANNINI,
Attorney for Petitioners.
MCKENZIE et al
2950 Bentley Ave. #2
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone 310 914 8493
Fax 310 473 5468
la
No. 99-5005
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
Monica M. McKenzie, et al.,
Appellants
V.
William H. Rehnquist, Hon., Chief Justice of the Judicial
Conference of the United States, et al.,
Appellees
November 24, 1999, Filed
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY:
Reported in Table Case Format at: /999 US App. LEXIS
37926.
PRIOR HISTORY:
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
97cv01792.
DISPOSITION:
Affirmed.
COUNSEL:
For MONICA M. MCKENZIE, JEFFREY L. RUSSELL,
ROGER LOWENSTEIN, BENITA KILCHLER, RICHARD
J. PACULIAN, LUISITO L. LOPEZ, ARTHUR MINTZ,
HOWARD SOBEN, DAVID ZISSER, Plaintiffs -
2a
Appellants: Joseph R. Giannini, Law Office of Joseph
Giannini, Los Angeles, CA.
For WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST, JUAN R. TORRUELLA,
JOSEPH L. TAURO, JON O. NEWMAN, PETER C.
DORSEY, DOLORES K. SLOVITER, EDWARD N.
CAHN, J. HARVIE WILKINSON, III, W. EARL BRITT,
HENRY A. POLITZ, WILLIAM H. BARBOUR, JR.,
BOYCE F. MARTIN, JR., THOMAS A. WISEMAN, JR.,
RICHARD A. POSNER, MICHAEL M. MIHM, RICHARD
S. ARNOLD, DONALD E. O'BRIEN, PROCTOR HUG,
JR., LLOYD D. GEORGE, STEPHANIE K. SEYMOUR,
CLARRENCE A. BRIMMER, JOSEPH W. HATCHETT,
WM. TERRELL HODGES, HARRY T. EDWARDS, JOHN
GARRETT PENN, GLENN L. ARCHER, JR., GREGORY
W. CARMAN, Defendants - Appellees: Wilma Antoinette |
Lewis, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, John Crawford |
Hoyle, Special Counsel, David William Ogden, Acting |
Assistant Attorney General, Peter Jeremy Smith, U.S. |
Department of Justice (DOJ), Washington, DC. ‘ |
JUDGES: |
BEFORE: Silberman, Henderson, and Tatel, Circuit Judges. |
~~ OPINION: |
JUDGMENT
This appeal was considered on the record from the United |
States District Court for the District of Columbia and on the |
briefs filed by the parties. The court has determined that the
issues presented occasion no need for an opinion. See Fed. R.
App. P. 36; D.C. Cir. Rule 36(b). It is
ORDERED and ADJUDGED that the district court's order
filed July 30, 1998, be affirmed. With respect to appellants'
challenges to the local rules in the California district courts,
the district court's order is affirmed substantially for the
seeerererereneremesamacmmasemmiiiiaiitiilaaiitiliiiiiiitliiiia
3a
reasons stated therein. With respect to appellants’ challenges
to the local rules in the remaining states, appellants have not
met their burden of clearly alleging facts that would establish
standing to challenge those local rules. Appellants failed to
allege an actual injury with respect to these district courts’
rules. See Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560-
61, 119 L. Ed. 2d 351, 112 S. Ct. 2130 (1992).
The Cierk is directed to withhold issuance of the mandate
herein until seven days after disposition of any timely
petition for rehearing or petition for rehearing en banc. See
Fed. R. App. P. 41(b); D.C. Cir. Rule 41.
Per Curiam
4a
97cv01792.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Monica M. McKenzie, et al.,
= V.
William H. Rehnquist, Hon., Chief Justice of the Judicial
Conference of the United States, et al.,
Filed 7/30/98
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Ten California attorneys bring this action against the
Judicial Conference of the United States, seeking, as they put
it, declarative relief holding that ‘local’ United States District
Court general admission rules that are adopted under 28
U.S.C.§ 2071, that deny reciprocal general admission to
sister-state attorneys are unlawful as they are not consistent
with the national rules and Acts of Congress. Compl. 4 |
(emphasis in original)
In other words, as the Court understands it, plaintiffs
object to the local rules of the various United States district
courts throughout the country that require membership in the
bar of the state wherein they sit as a condition to admission to
practice before them en a regular (as opposed to a pro hac
vice) basis (hereinafter the local rules). Plaintiffs maintain
[that] the challenged ‘sweetheart’ federal judicial favoritism
in access to the United States District Courts are an
anachronism antithetical to the federal court’s jurisdiction
and obligation. Compl.
Sa
The case is presently before the court on dispositive
cross— motions. The Court finds no material facts to be in
dispute. '
For complaint is drawn in nine counts, alleging, -
successivaly, that the offending local rules are in violation of:
(1) 28 U.S.C. §§ 331, 332, 2071; (2) 28 U.S.C. §§ 331,
332, 2072; (3) the First Amendment; (4) Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 42 U.S.C. SS 2000¢e to 2000e—17; (5) the
Equal Protection clause; (6) the Fifth Amendment Due
Process Clause; (7) the Fifth Amendment Right to Property;
(8) the Right to Travel; and (9) the Full Faith and Credit
Clause. A ruling in their favor en any one count, according to
plaintiffs, would entitle them to the relief prayed.
Regardless of the merits of plaintiffs’ arguments,
plaintiffs have not adequately demonstrated that any one of
them has standing to challenge the local rules of any district
courts other than, possibly, those in California. Plaintiffs
have not alleged that any other federal court has denied any
plaintiff admission to its bar. Nevertheless, assuming that one
or more plaintiffs could show standing if leave to amend the
complaint were given, the Court will address the merits of
each count.’
II.
Counts I and II (Violation of 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071-2)
Counts I and II Allege violations of 28 U.S.C. §§
2071 and 2072, respectively. Section 2071 requires that local
federal court rules be consistent with Acts of Congress and
rules of practice and procedure prescribed (by the Supreme
Court) under section 2072.’ Pursuant to § 2072, local rules
‘shall not abridge, enlarge or modify any substantive right.’
6a
Plaintiffs fail, however, to cite a single federal statute
or rule with which any challenged local district court rule is
inconsistent. Instead, plaintiffs claim that the local rules
violate the "spirit" of a federal rule of appellate procedure, a
federal statute, and an executive order.
First, plaintiffs contend that the local rules -are
inconsistent with Pad. R. App. p. 46(a), which provides that
an attorney who is a member of ‘the highest court of a state . .
-is eligible for admission to the bar’ of a court of appeals.’ As
is apparent on its face, however, Rule 46(a) clearly has no
application whatsoever to the district courts.
Similarly, plaintiffs claim that the local rules are
‘directly inconsistent’ with 5 U.S.C. § 500(b), which permits
an attorney in good standing in any state to practice before
any ‘federal administrative agency.” Once again, that statute
is clearly inapplicable to federal district courts.
Finally, plaintiffs ‘contend that the local rules violate
Executive Order 11478, which prohibits discrimination in
personnel actions ‘affecting employees or applicants for
employment . . . in the judicial branch.’ Obviously, attorneys
applying for admission to the bar of a federal district court
are not potential. ‘employees’ of the court and, therefore, are
not covered by Executive Order 11478.
Count III (First Amendment)
Count III alleges a violation of plaintiffs’ First
Amendment rights. Plaintiffs contend that ‘(t)he challenged
‘local’ federal rules ‘directly’ burden the (p)laintiffs(')
inextricably intertwined First Amendment right to speech,
association, and petition.’ See Reply Mem. in Supp. of Mot,
for Summ. J., at 18.
Plaintiffs then expend considerable effort arquing that
7a
defendants do not have any "compelling interest’ that would
justify infringing their First Amendment rights, and that the
challenged local rules are overbroad. Without citation or
further explanation, plaintiffs simply observe that they are
‘attorneys with fundamental First Amendment rights,’ as
assuredly they are.
Courts have, of course, recognized a fundamental -
right of access to the courts, under due process, equal
protection, or First Amendment rationales. See Bieregu v.
Reno, 59 F.3d 1445, 1452—54 (3d Cir. 1995); Harrison v.
Springdale Water & Sewer Comm'n, 780 F.2d 1422, 1427
n.7 (8th Cir. 1986). But insofar as actually addressing the
court as an advocate is concerned, this right is limited to the
right to represent oneself pro se. There is no constitutional
right to represent others in court, and plaintiffs have cited no
case standing for the proposition that attorneys enjoy a First
Amendment right to practice law in any court of their
choosing without having first been admitted to practice there.
In short, plaintiffs have not identified any First
Amendment interest that is affected by the challenged rules.
Count IV (Title. VII)
Plaintiffs ingeniously submit that the local rules
violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C.
§§ 2000e to 2000e-17. Title VII protects employees from
discriminatory employers. But the courts are not ‘employers’
of the members of their respective bars, and Title VII does
not extend to ‘discrimination’ based upon bar membership.
Title VII operates to outlaw only discrimination based upon
‘race, color, sex, or national origin, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e—2.
Discrimination on the basis of bar membership is, curiously,
not mentioned. Plaintiffs argue that the statute should not be
limited to those groups specifically enumerated; but should
be read in light of its greater purpose, which plaintiffs
8a
describe as providing ‘a vessel in which the milk of
employment opportunity is one that all may use without
restriction.” See PIf.’ Reply Mem, in Supp. of Mot. for
Summ. J., at 22—23. Perhaps so, but not until Congress says
sO.
Count V (Equal Protection)
In Count V, plaintiffs contend that the challenged
rules violate their Fifth Amendment right to equal protection.
In support of an elaborate argument that the Court should
apply some ‘heightened level of scrutiny’ to the equal
protection analysis, plaintiffs rely upon decisions holding that
courts may not treat residents of-one state differently than
those of another.
For example, in Supreme Court of New Hampshire v.
Piper, 470 U.S. 274 (1985), the Supreme Court held that a
rule by a State Supreme Court that limited bar admission to
state residents violated the Privileges and Immunities Clause
of Art. IV, § 2. The Supreme Court rejected the notion that a
nonresident attorney (who had by the way, passed the New
Hampshire bar examination at 276) should be presumed. to
be less competent or less available than attorneys who
resided within the state. Piper, 470 U.S. at 285—86. And in
Frazier v. Heebe, 482 U.S.641 (1987), the Supreme Court
extended its reasoning in Piper to hold that a federal district
court in Louisiana could not require applicants to its bar to
live, Or maintain an office in Louisiana. In Frazier, the
plaintiff did ‘not challenge the requirement . . . that an
attorney must be a member In good standing of the Louisiana
Bar.’ 482 U.S. at 646 n.5.
Neither Piper nor Frazier is relevant to the present
case, because ‘the local rules do not treat lawyers of one state
differently than those of another.’ Giannini 711 F. Supp. at
1000. Under the local rules challenged here, all lawyers of all
9a
States are presumably required to be members in good
standing of the bar of the state in which the federal district
court sits. In both Piper and Frazier, the plaintiffs were, in
fact, members of the relevant state’s bar and never questioned
the requirement that they be so.
Despite plaintiffs’ claim to be entitled to a heightened
scrutiny analysis of the issue, the ‘challenged rules do not
involve the impairment of a fundamental right because there is
no fundamental right to practice law. Further, lawyers are not
a suspect class. Therefore, a rational level of scrutiny is used’
in evaluating plaintiffs’ equal protection claim. See Giannini,
911. F.2d at 359. The justifications set forth by defendants in
support of the local rules ‘amply satisfy the requirement of a
rational basis for the classification.’ See Giannini, 911 F.2d at.
360.° Asa result, the challenged —_ do not violate plaintifs’
equal protection rights.
Count VI (Due Process)
Count VI contends that the local rules violate
plaintiffs’ Fifth Amendment right to due process. The Due
Process Clause affords protection only to ‘those property
interests which are created and defined by independent
sources, such as statutes, legal rules, or mutually explicit
understandings.’ See Maynard v. United States Dist. Ct. for
the Cent. Dist. of Cal., 701 F. Supp. 738, 743 (C.D. Cal.
1988) (citing Board of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S..564, 569—
70 (1972)), aff'd, 915 P.2d 1581 (8th Cir.1990). Plaintiffs
cite no ‘rule, statute, or understanding that would support
their claim of denial of a property right to practice law in the
district court’. See also Matter of Roberts, 682 F.2d 105, 107
(3d Cir. 1982). Cf Leis v. Flynt, 439 U.S. 438, 443 (1979)
(“The Constitution does not require that because a lawyer has
been admitted to the bar of one state; he or she must be
allowed to practice in another").* Accordingly, Count VI
should be dismissed.
10a ©
Count VII (Privileges and Immunities Clause)
Entitled ‘Violation of Fifth Amendment Right to
Property,’ it is nevertheless unclear exactly what Count VII
alleges. In their papers, plaintiffs contend that "an attorney’s
‘privilege and immunity’ is constitutionally protected,’
Comply. 4 123, and that the challenged rules ‘abridge and
modify the plaintiffs’ property rights.” See Id. 4 125.
Plaintiffs seem to contend that the local rules violate either
the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment or the Privileges
and Immunities Clause of Article IV, 9 2. Neither claim has
merit.
As explained in the discussion of Count VI, supra,
Plaintiffs have no ‘property right’ to practice law in every
state and federal court they choose. Hence, the takings claim
is specious.
Article IV, § 2 of the Constitution provides that the
citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and
Immunities of Citizens in the several States.’ The Privileges
and Immunities Clause prevents ‘a State from discriminating
against citizens of other states in favor of its own." Hague v.
C1I.O., 307 U.S. 496 (1939) (emphasis supplied). The
Privileges and Immunities Clause is not a limitation on
powers of the federal government. Hawes v. Club Ecuestre El
Commandanite. Etc., 535 F.2d 140, 145 (1st Cir. .1976).
Plaintiffs cite several cases in which courts have
struck down attorney admission requirements under the
Privileges and Immunities Clause. See Piper, 470 U.S. 274.
However, in each of those cases, the courts were dealing with
state laws which discriminated against non—residents. Here,
there is no state action; federal courts’ local rules are matters
of federal law. See Snyder, 472 U.S. 634, 645 n.6 (1985).
Furthermore, the local rules at issue do not discriminate on
the basis or state citizenship or residency; all attorneys,
regardless of domicile, are required to be members of the bar
lla
of the state in which the federal court sits.
Count VIII (Right to Travel)
In Count VIII, plaintiffs contend that the local rules
violate their ‘right to travel.’ Rut here, as in Giannini, the
‘lack of disparate treatment of non-residents or.recent arrivals
eliminates the barrier to interstate travel.’ See Giannini, 911
F.2d at 360 n.7, 357 n.5. Admission to the federal district
courts is conditioned on one’s having passed (or been
excused from taking) the state bar examination, irrespective
of one’s residency. Plaintiffs’ argument has been specifically
rejected in several challenges to bar admission requirements.
See Hawkins v. Moss. 503 F.2d 1171, 1178 (4th Cir. 1974);
Galahad v. Weinshienk, 555 F. supp. 1201, 1208 (D. colo.
1983).
Count IX (Full Faith and Credit)
Plaintiffs contend that the local rules violate the Full.
Faith and Credit Clause. That provision provides that ‘Full
Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public
Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.’
U.S. Const. Art. IV, § 1. The claim lacks merit, since
plaintiffs do not cite any ‘act, record, or judicial proceeding’
or any state in which they are admitted that purports to entitle
them to practice law in any other state, or in any federal
court. See Giannini, 911 F.2d at 360.
For the foregoing reasons, it is, this 30" day of July,
1998,
ORDERED, that Plaintiffs’ motion for summary
judgment is denied; and it. is
FURTHER ORDERED, that Plaintiffs’ motion for
case priority (13) is denied as moot; and it is
12a
FURTHER ORDERED, that defendants’ motion to
dismiss the complaint (4) is granted, and this action is
dismissed with prejudice, and the Clerk is directed to enter
judgment for defendants and against plaintiffs, with costs.
Thomas Penfield Jackson
U.S. District Judge
FOOTNOTES
' Although not a plaintiff himself, plaintiffs’ counsel
is Joseph R. Giannini, Esq., of Los Angeles, California. Eight
years ago, Mr. Giannini unsuccessfully litigated a nearly
identical case pro se in California. See Giannini v. Real, 711
F. Supp. 992 (C.D. Cal. 1989), aff'd, 911 F.2d 354 (9th cir
1990). Mr. Giannini is a California resident who passed the
New Jersey and Pennsylvania bar examinations. After failing
the California.bar twice, Giannini challenged the California
federal district courts’ local admission rules, which require
membership in the State Bar of California to practice before
them. See Giannini, 911 F.2d at 356. Mr. Giannini is not a
member of the bar of this U.S. district court, and professes to
be unable to retain the services of attorney who is. The Court
will therefore, sup sponte, admit him pro hac vice for
purposes of the instant motions.
? In Giannini, 911 F.2d 354, supra, n.1, the Ninth circuit
considered and rejected the arguments underlying five of the
nine counts plaintiffs allege here. Mr. Giannini urges the
court to disregard the Ninth Circuit’s decision, which he
regards as a ‘deliberate federal coverup . . . qualitatively
identical to the Tailhook incident, where Naval Admirals
chose to ignore unlawful conduct visited upon female
Officers, so as to not publicly impugn the integrity of their
sons and the Navy.’ See Pls. Reply Mem, in Supp. of Mot.
for Summ. J., at 37-38.
13a
* Defendants offer the following rational bases accepted by
the Ninth Circuit in Giannini -- for the challenged rules: (1)
district courts, having no relevant procedures of their own,
rely on the state bar examination for determination of fitness
to practice law; (2) questions of state substantive law
permeate the range of cases over which the district courts
have subject matter jurisdiction; (3) membership in the state
bar provides the district courts assurance that the character,
moral integrity and fitness of prospective adaittees have been
approved after investigations; (4) allegations of professional
misconduct can be brought to the attention of the State bar;
(5) such membership helps screen applicants who are guilty
of ethical misconduct in any other jurisdiction; and (6)
attorneys who are members of the state and district court bars
will not choose the forum for litigation on the basis of their
membership in the federal bar rather than the clients’
interests. See Giannini, 911 F.2d at 360.
* Plaintiffs claim that their right to practice law is a ‘property’
right. Citing Supreme Court of New Hampshire v. Piper, 470
U.S. 274 (1985), plaintiffs argue that the opportunity to
practice law is constitutionally protected. But, as noted
above, Piper is completely inapposite to the present case. The
Piper Court, relying on the Privileges and Immunities Clause
(which is inapplicable to actions by the federal government),
held that in admitting attorneys to its bar, a State may not
discriminate against non-residents. The Court expressly
stated that it did not purport to overrule Leis. See Piper, 439
US. at ' 283 n.16.
l4a
97cv01792.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
~ Monica M. McKenzie, et al.,
Vv.
William H. Rehnquist, Hon., Chief Justice of the Judicial
Conference of the United States, et al.,
Filed 7/30/98
This cause having been considered by the Court on
cross dispositive motions, before the Honorable Thomas
Penfield Jackson, Judge presiding, and the issues having been
duly briefed by all parties and the court having rendered its
decision granting defendants motion to dismiss, now
therefore, pursuant to the decision of the Court,
IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the
plaintiffs MONICAM.MCKENZIE,JEFFREYL.RUSELL,RO
GER LOWENSTEIN.BENITA KILCHLER, RICHARD
J.PACULIAN, LUISITO L.LOPEZ, ARTHUR MINTZ,
HOWARD SOBEN, JANE DOE, DAVID ZISSER take
nothing on the complaint against the defendants
HON.WIWAM H. REHNQUIST, HON.JLJAN R.
TORRUELLA, HON.JOSEPH L. TAURO, HON. JON
O.NEWMAN, HON.PETERC.DORSEY, HON
DOLORSEK.SLOVITER HON. EDWARD N. CAHN,
HON.J.HARVIE WILKINSON, HON.W.EARL BRITT,
HON.HENRY A. POLITZ, HON.WILLIAM H. BARBOUR .
JR., HON.BOYCE F. MARTIN JR.. HON. THOMAS A.
WISEMANIR., HON. RICHARD A. POSNER, HON.
MICHAEL M. MIHM, HON.RiCHARD S. ARNOLD,
15a -
HON.I, DONALD E. O’BRIEN, HON PROCTOR HUG JR.,
HON.LLOYD D.GEORGE, HON.STEPHANIE _ K.
SEYMOUR, HON.CLARRENCE A. BRIMMER, HON
JOSEPH W. HATCHEIT, HON WM.TERRELL HODGES,
HON HARRY T. EDWARDS, HON.JOHN GARRETT
PENN, HON.GLENN L. ARCHER JR., HON. GREGORY
W. CARMAN and that the said defendants have and recover
costs from the said plaintiff.
NANCY MAYER-WHITTINGTON. Clerk
l6a
97cv01792.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Monica M. McKenzie, et al.,
V.
William H. Rehnquist, Hon., Chief Justice of the Judicial
Conference of the United States, et al.,
Filed 12/8/98
Upon consideration of the motion of plaintiffs to
vacate, alter, amend, and for a new trial, the opposition of
defendants thereto, and the entire record herein, it appearing to
the court that plaintiffs have not presented arguments that
support alteration or amendment of the court's July 30, 1998
order, or other similar relief, it is, this day of December, 1998,
ORDERED, that motion of plaintiffs to vacate, alter,
amend and for a new trial is denied; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that the ex parte application
of plaintiffs for oral argument on their motion to vacate is
denied as moot.
Thomas Penfield Jackson
U.S. District Judge
%
17a
No. 99-5005
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
Monica M. McKenzie, et al.,
Appellants
v.
William H. Rehnquist, Hon., Chief Justice of the Judicial
Conference of the United States, et al.,
Appellees
Febrary 29, 2000 Filed
ORDER
Upon consideration of appellants’ petition for rehearing en
banc, and the absence of a request by any member of the
court for a vote, it is
ORDERED that the petition be denied.
18a
RELEVANT STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL
PROVISIONS
5 U.S.C. § 500(b) provides,
“An individual who is a member in good standing of the
highest court of any State may represent a person before an
agency on filing with the agency a Declaration that he is
currently qualified as provided by this subsection and is
authorized to represent the particular person on whose behalf
he acts.” The only exception concerns patent attorneys.
28 U.S.C. § 1654
In all courts of the United States the parties may plead and
conduct their own cases personally or by counsel as, by the
rules of such courts, respectively, are permitted to manage
and conduct causes therein.
28 U.S.C. § 2071(a) provides,
The Supreme Court and all courts established by Act of
Congress may from time to time prescribe rules for the
conduct of their business. Such [local] rules shall be
consistent with Acts of Congress and rules of practice and
procedure under Section 2072 of this title. (Emphasis added)
28 U.S.C. § 2072 (b) in pertinent part provides,
Such [local] rules shall not abridge, enlarge or modify
any substantive right. (Emphasis added)
FRAP 46(a)provides,
“An attorney who has been admitted to practice before the
Supreme Court of the United States, or the highest court of a
state, or another United States court of appeals, or a United
States district court (including the district courts for the Canal
19a
Zone, Guam and the Virgin Islands), and who is of good
moral and professional character, is eligible for admission to
the bar of a court of appeals.” i
Constitutional Provisions
Article IV Section 1. [Full Faith and Credit]
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the
public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other
State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the
Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall
be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Article IV Section 2. [Privileges and Immunities]
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all
Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
First Amendment.
Congress shall make no law .. . abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
14th Amendment, Section |
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall
20a
make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any
State deprive-any person of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law; nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
APPENDIX
TABLE |
DISTRICT LOCAL RULES THAT PROVIDE GENERAL
ADMISSION RECIPROCITY
E.D. Arkansas LRB-1; W.D. Arkansas LRB-1; D. Conn.
LR2; D. Hawaii LR110-1; C.D. Ill. LR83.5; N.D. Ill. LR3;
S.D. Ill. LR1; N.D. Ind. LR83.5; S.D. Ind. LR83.5; E.D.
Mich. LR110.1; W.D. Mich. LR16; E.D. MO. LR12.01; D.
Neb. LR10-1; N.D.N.Y LR 83.1; D. N.Dak. LR79.1; N.D.
Ohio LR1:5.1>E.D. Ok. LR83.3; N.D. Ok. LR83.2; W.D.
Ok. LR83.3; W.D. Pa. LR83.5; D. Puerto Rico LR201; D.
R.I. LR4; E.D. Tn. LR83.5; E.D. Tx. LR2; N.D. Tx. LR13.1;
S.D. Tx. LR1; W.D. Tx. LRAT-1; E.D. Wisc. LR2.02; W.D.
Wisc. LR1.
TABLE 2
DISTRICT LOCAL RULES THAT PROVIDE SOME
FORM OF QUID PRO QUO GENERAL ADMISSION
RECIPROCITY
D. Az. LR1.5S(all attorneys eligible except attorneys residing
in Az. or whose principal office or practice is in Az.) D.
Columbia LR701(active members in good standing of the Bar
of the District of Columbia, or active members in good
standing of the highest court of any state in which the
attorney maintains his/her principal law office and is a
2la
member in good standing of a United States District Court
that provides for reciprocal admission to members of the bar
of this court; D. Maryland LR701(allows anyone to be
admitted, but “no attorney . . .may be a member if the District
Court for which the attorney maintain his principal law office
has a local rule that denies membership. . .to a Maryland
member with offices in Maryland”); E.D. and S.D. New York
LR2(“A member of the bar of the State of New York, or a
member of the bar of the United States District Court in New
Jersey, Connecticut or Vermont” which allows members of
these two districts to practice there); W.D. N.Y.
LR83.1(admits anyone who is a member of any district court
which does not exclude its members); D. Vermont R1 (admits
Vermont members “or any attorney of the Bar of any District
Court within-the First and Second Circuits. . .”’)
TABLE 3
DISTRICT COURT LOCAL RULES- RESTRICT
GENERAL BAR ADMISSION TO ATTORNEYS FROM
THE FORUM STATE
M.D. Ala. LR1; N.D. Ala. LR83.1; S.D. Ala. LR1; D. Alaska
LR83.1; C.D. Ca. LR2.2; E.D. Ca. LR180; N.D. Ca. LR1I1;
S.D. Ca. LR83.5; D. Col. LR83.5; D. De. LR83.5; M.D. FI.
LR2.01-.02; N.D. Fl. LR11.1; S.D. Fl. LR11.1; M.D. Ga.
LR2; N.D. Ga. LR110; S.D. Ga. LR502/504; D. Guam
LR110; D. Idaho. LR83.5; N.D. Iowa LR5; S.D. Iowa LRS;
D. Kan. LR83.5; E.D. Ky. LR3; W.D. Ky. LR3; E.D. La.
LR20; M.D. La. LR20; W.D. La. LR20; D. Maine LR83.1;
D. Mass. 83.5; D. Mn. 83.5; N.D. Mis. LR1; S.D. Mis. LR1;
W.D. Mo. LRI; D. Montana LRI10; D. Nev. LRIO-1;
D.N.H. LR 83.1; D. N.J. LR4; D. New. Mex. LR83.2; E.D.
N.C. LR2.00; M.D. N.C. LR103; W.D. N.C. LR1; D. N.
Marina Islands LR83.5; S.D. Oh. LR83.4; D. Or. LR110;
E.D. Pa. LR83.5; M.D. Pa. LR204; D. S.C. LR2.00; D. S.D.
22a
LR83.2; M.D. Tn. LR1(b); W.D. Tn. LR1; D. Utah LR103-1;
D. Vir. Islands LR 83.1.(1); E.D. Va. LR 83.1.(A); W.D. Va.
LR 2(1); E.D. Wa. LR 2; W.D. Wa. LR83.2; N.D. W. Va. LR
2.01.; S.D. W. Va. LR 2.01-.02; D. Wy. LR 201(a);
TABLE 4
DISTRICT COURT LOCAL RULES THAT NOT ONLY
RESTRICT GENERAL BAR ADMISSION TO
ATTORNEYS FROM THE FORUM STATE, BUT GO
FURTHER AND CATEGORICALLY RESTRICT PRO
HAC VICE ADMISSION
M.D. Ala. LR1; N.D. Ala. LR83.1; $.D. Ala. LR1; D. Alaska
LR83.1; C.D. Ca. LR2.2; E.D. Ca. LR180; S.D. Ca. LR83.5;
D. Col. LR83.5; D. De. LR83.5; M.D. Fl. LR2.01-.02; N.D.
Fl. LR11.1; S.D. Fl. LR11.1; M.D. Ga. LR2.00; N.D.
Ga.LR110; S.D. Ga. LRS5S04; D. Guam LR110; D. Mn. 83.5;
N.D. Mis. LR1; S.D. Mis. LR1; D. Montana LR110; D. Nev.
LR10-2; D. New. Mex. LR83.3; E.D. N.C. LR2.05; D. N.
Marina Islands LR83.5; M.D. Tn. LR1(d); E.D. Va. LR
83.1.(A); W.D. Va. LR 2(1); E.D. Wa. LR 2; W.D. Wa.
LR83.2;
TABLE 5
Title VII REGULATIONS
See 29 CRF § 1607-UNIFORM GUIDELINES ON
EMPLOYEE SELECTION
PROCEDURES (1978)
29 CRF § 1607.1 Statement of purpose. A. Need for
uniformity—Issuing agencies. The Federal government’s
23a
need for a uniform set of principles on the question of the use
of tests and other selection procedures has long been
recognized. The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, the Civil Service Commission, the Department
of Labor, and the Department of Justice jointly have adopted
these uniform guidelines to meet that need, and to apply the
same principles to the Federal Government as are applied to
other employers.
29 CRF § 1607.1 B -- Purpose of guidelines. These
guidelines incorporate a single set of principles which are
designed to assist employers, labor organizations,
employment agencies, and licensing and certification boards
to comply with requirements of Federal law prohibiting
employment practices which discriminate on grounds of race,
color, religion, sex, and national origin. They are designed to
provide a framework for determining the proper use of tests
and other selection procedures. . .
29 CRF § 1607.2 B -- Employment decisions. These
guidelines apply to tests and other selection procedures which
are used as a basis for any employment decision.
Employment decisions include but are not limited to hiring,
promotion, demotion, membership (for example, in a labor
organization), referral, retention, and licensing and
certification. . .
29 CRF § 1607-11 Disparate treatment,
.. .A selection procedure. . . . cannot be imposed upon
members of a race, sex, or ethnic group where other
employees, applicants, or members have not been subjected
to that standard. Disparate treatment occurs where
members of a race, sex, or ethnic group have been denied the
same employment, promotion, membership, or other
24a
employment opportunities a§ have been available to other
employees or applicants.
29 CRF § 1607.3 Discrimination defined.- Relationship
bety een use of selection procedures and discrimination.
B. Consideration of suitable alternative selection
procedures. Where two or more selection procedures are
available which serve the user's legitimate interest in efficient
and trustworthy workmanship, and which are substantially
equally valid for a given purpose, the user should use the
procedure which has been demonstrated to have the lesser
adverse impact.
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.