SCOTUS may again take up question of mandatory bar

Cotter’s Corner

By Daniel A. Cotter

Daniel A. Cotter is a partner at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC and author of the book “The Chief Justices” (Twelve Tables Press). The views expressed here are solely those of the author. He can be reached at scotuslyyours@gmail.com.

Posted April 6, 2020 9:29 AM

For the second time in its long history, the U.S. Supreme Court released decisions online last week. There is much talk about the approaches the court should consider for the cases where oral argument has not taken place. One issue the court might hear next term is a First Amendment challenge to mandatory bar membership. While Illinois is, of course, a voluntary state, the issue is important on a bigger scale.Mandatory bars and the Supreme CourtThirty-two states have unified or mandatory bar associations, requiring lawyers …

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