Sec. 51-81. Investigation of qualifications of applicants for admission to the bar.
Sec. 51-81. Investigation of qualifications of applicants for admission to the
bar. (a) For the purpose of investigating the moral qualifications or general fitness of
any applicant for admission to the bar of the state upon motion or examination, the
chairperson of the State Bar Examining Committee and each chairperson of any standing
committee on recommendations for admission to the bar, in any county, shall have
power to compel the attendance and testimony before it, or before any member thereof,
by subpoena and capias issued by such chairperson or other competent authority, of any
person who the chairperson reasonably believes may have information useful to the
committee in its investigation, at such time and place in the town in which the investigation is being made as may be designated in the subpoena. For such purpose any chairperson may compel the production before the committee, or any member thereof, by subpoena duces tecum, of any books, records, including any military service records, or
papers which the chairperson reasonably believes may contain information useful to
the committee in its investigation.
(b) A person shall not be excused from testifying before the committee, or any
member thereof or from producing books, records or papers on the ground that the
testimony or the production of the books, records or papers will tend to incriminate him,
but such evidence shall not be used in any criminal proceedings against him.
(c) If any person disobeys any such subpoena or, having appeared in obedience
thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question put to him by the committee or any
member thereof, the committee or member may complain to the state's attorney of the
judicial district within which the investigation is being made, who, upon being furnished
with the necessary information, shall immediately apply to the Superior Court, or to a
judge thereof if the court is not in session, setting forth such disobedience to process or
refusal to answer. The court or judge shall cite such person to appear before the court
or judge and shall inquire as to the truth of the allegations contained in the application.
If the court or judge finds the allegations to be true, the court or judge shall commit the
person to a community correctional center until he testifies, but not for a longer period
than sixty days.
(d) Any such process may be directed to any proper officer and the officer shall
serve the process as commanded therein.
(e) The State Bar Examining Committee shall develop and implement a procedure to
adapt the administration of the bar examination to the needs of persons with disabilities,
provided any such adaptation shall not compromise the validity of the examination.
Such procedure shall include a method of informing persons with disabilities of the
opportunity to request such an adaptation.
(1949 Rev., S. 7639; 1969, P.A. 297; P.A. 82-248, S. 70; P.A. 90-151, S. 2, 3.)
History: 1969 act substituted "community correctional center" for "jail"; P.A. 82-248 reworded provisions but made
no substantive changes; P.A. 90-151 changed "chairman" to "chairperson", included military records as records which are
subject to subpoena, and added Subsec. (e) requiring the bar examining committee to develop and implement procedure
for administration of bar exam to persons with disabilities.