Petitions Relating to the Montana Bar Examination.

05/17/2023

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA D Case Number: PR 06-0422

PR 06-0422 MAY 1 6 2023 Bowen Greenwood Clerk of Supreme Court IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF State of Montana BERNADETTE FRANKS-ONGOY FOR ORDER WAIVER OF MULTISTATE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY EXAMINATION

Bernadette Franks-Ongoy has petitioned the Court for waiver of the requirement to take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) for purposes of Franks-Ongoy's intended admission upon motion to the State Bar of Montana. By rule, "[a]ll applicants for admission to the State Bar of Montana must pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination." Rule HI, Rules for Admission to the Bar of Montana. Franks-Ongoy is a member of the Hawaii State Bar but apparently has not previously taken the MPRE. While the Court routinely waives the requirement that the MPRE be taken and passed within three years of the application for admission, Rule VII(A), Rules for Admission, for applicants who have previously taken the exam, the Court is unable to waive the MPRE requirement altogether. Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the petition of Bernadette Franks-Ongoy for waiver of the requirement to pass the MPRE for purposes of admission by motion to the State Bar of Montana is DENIED.

The Clerk shall mail a copy of this order to Petitioner and to the Administrator of the Board of Bar Examiners at the State Bar of Montana.

DATED this I kz lay of May, 2023.

Chief Justice