Committee on Character and Fitness

The Committee on Character and Fitness (Committee) determines the moral fitness of bar applicants, with support of the Bar Administrator, by scrutinizing the applicant’s finances, legal training, and criminal records, if any.  The Committee conducts mandatory in-person personal interviews with all the applicants and, if further review is warranted following the interview, the Committee will conduct a full hearing and make recommendations to the Supreme Court as to whether an applicant should be admitted to the bar. The Supreme Court may either grant the applicant’s request or require the applicant to show cause why the Court should not grant the request. 

The Committee has seven (7) members and is appointed by the Supreme Court.  The members include one (1) member of the Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners, the Attorney General or designee, the Clerk of the Supreme Court, and four (4) members of the Rhode Island Bar.

Members serve for three (3) years and have a two (2) term limit.  However, the Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General or designee serve as members on the Committee while the individual serves in the foregoing positions.

Members