Opinion
2021-AD-00001-SCT 89-R-99011-SCT
11-17-2021
EMERGENCY ORDER RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
AGREE: RANDOLPH, C.J., KITCHENS AND KING, P.JJ., MAXWELL, BEAM, CHAMBERLIN, ISHEE AND GRIFFIS, JJ.
EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER-24
MICHAEL K. RANDOLPH, CHIEF JUSTICE
Before the Court is the Petition of the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education ("the Commission") to temporarily "waive the in-person requirement for attorneys' continuing legal education obligation for the 2021-2022 reporting year so that attorneys will be allowed to earn CLE credits in the method of their choosing, either online, webinars or live, in-person programs."
After due consideration, the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice, in his capacity as chief administrative officer of all courts in the state, find that the Commission's motion should be granted.
Moreover, in light of the dangers created by the Coronavirus, the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice, in his capacity as chief administrative officer of all courts in the state, find the following additional actions are warranted:
(A) The requirements for newly licensed attorneys set forth in Rule 3b shall be temporarily amended to allow such attorneys to complete the new lawyer program through the method of their choosing, either online, webinars or live, in-person programs, as approved by the Commission.
(B) Any attorney who is unable to complete the temporarily amended requirements set forth in this Order may seek a hardship exemption and/or extension from the Commission.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Petition of the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education is hereby granted. For the 2021-2022 CLE reporting year, attorneys may complete their CLE obligations set forth in Rule 3 through online, webinars or live, in-person programs. Such CLE courses must comply with the remaining provisions of Rules 3 and 4. Any attorney who is unable to comply with the temporary amendments may seek a hardship exemption and/or extension from the Commission.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the new lawyer program set forth in Rule 3b shall be temporarily amended to allow newly admitted lawyers who are to complete the program by July 31, 2022, to complete the required courses through online, webinars or live, in-person programs, as approved by the Commission. Any newly admitted attorney who is unable to comply with the temporary amendments may seek a hardship exemption and/or extension from the Commission.
SO ORDERED.
DISAGREE: COLEMAN, J.