Frank Lawrence, Jr. v. United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

The Sixth Circuit determined in this case that although “the Supreme Court has not formally announced the proper standard of review for baradmission cases, longstanding legal authority governing admission to federal courts favors the abuse-of-discretion standard.” Pet. App. 7a.

1. What standard of review should be employed by Courts of Appeals when reviewing a federal district court’s decision to deny an attorney’s application for admission to its bar and the adverse admission decision disapproves of the attorney’s speech-related activities and his beliefs?

2. Should the Courts of Appeals be required to undertake “independent review” of a district court’s adverse decision on an attorney’s application for admission to the district court’s bar, especially when the rejected attorney asserts that the district court’s denial violated the unconstitutional conditions doctrine?