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FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE # 12 FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

The Opinions handed down on the 10th day of March, 2006 are as follows:

PER CURIAM : 2004-OB-2431 IN RE: THOMAS "TOMMY" EASTERLING (Committee on Bar Admissions) Accordingly, it is ordered that the application for admission be and hereby is denied. JOHNSON, J., concurs.

03/10/2006

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO. 04-OB-2431 IN RE: THOMAS "TOMMY" LEA EASTERLING

ON APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR

PER CURIAM
The Committee on Bar Admissions ("Committee") opposed the application of petitioner, Thomas "Tommy" Lea Easterling, to sit for the Louisiana Bar Examination based on character and fitness concerns. Specifically, the Committee informed petitioner that his application would be denied in light of allegations that a finance company he owned was engaged in usurious lending practices which violated the federal civil RICO Act. The Committee also cited petitioner's forgery conviction, multiple traffic violations, and his involvement in extensive business-related litigation as grounds for denying his application. We subsequently granted petitioner

permission to sit for the bar exam, with the condition that upon his successful completion of the exam, he apply to the court for the appointment of a commissioner to take character and fitness evidence.1 Petitioner thereafter successfully passed the essay portion of the bar exam, and upon his application, we appointed a commissioner to take evidence and report to this court whether petitioner possesses the appropriate character and fitness to be admitted to the bar and allowed to practice law in the State of Louisiana. We also authorized the Office of Disciplinary Counsel to conduct an investigation into petitioner's qualifications to be admitted to the bar.

1

In re: Easterling, 04-1768 (La. 7/16/04), 877 So. 2d 991.

The commissioner conducted a character and fitness hearing in April 2005, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XVII,

Download 2004-OB-2431 IN RE: THOMAS “TOMMY” EASTERLING.pdf

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