Washington Supreme Court rules formerly incarcerated individual can be a lawyer
Washington State – The Washington Supreme Court has overturned the Washington State Bar Association’s decision to prohibit Zachary Stevens from sitting for the bar examination. The formerly incarcerated law graduate is now approved to take the bar and is one step closer to fulfilling his dream of practicing law in the state of Washington.
Stevens joins Civil Survival board member, Shon Hopwood, a Georgetown University professor and a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar and Civil Survival Founding Director, Tarra Simmons, as formerly incarcerated individuals who have been able to sit for the bar exam. Hopwood and Simmons were both instrumental in Steven’s case.
Civil Survival is proud of our team and community partners for their hard work. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our very own Senior Attorney Sugam Soni for his creative efforts on the amicus brief. And of course a huge shout out to our Director Tarra Simmons for paving the way to ensure impacted individuals have the same right + access as any other individual wanting to become a lawyer.
The fight continues but today we celebrate this monumental win!
Case details here:
https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/index.cfm?fa=opinions.showOpinion&filename=2019978MAJ