Rule XI Administration

A. Final Authority The Montana Supreme Court is the final authority as to whether an applicant may be admitted to practice law in Montana. The Court may, under circumstances it deems sufficient, waive any requirement under these Rules. B. Judicial Immunity; Privileged Communication; Waiver of Privilege All commissions, committees, boards, and their members and personnel, including personnel and employees of the State Bar of Montana, acting on behalf of the Montana Supreme Court under these Rules, have the judicial immunity the Montana Supreme Court would have if performing the same functions. Records, statements of opinion, and other information regarding an applicant for admission to the State Bar of Montana communicated in good faith and without malice by any person or entity to any commission, committee, or board involved in the admissions process, including the person’s or entity’s members, employees, or agents, are privileged and

the information communicated is not admissible in any lawsuit. Waiver of the privilege, if any, is governed by Mont. R. Evid. 503. C. Appointment of Bar Admissions Administrator Subject to the approval of the Commission on Character and Fitness and the Montana Board of Bar Examiners, which approval may not be unreasonably withheld, the Executive Director of the State Bar of Montana shall appoint a Bar Admissions Administrator, who is administratively attached to the State Bar of Montana. D. Annual Reports to Supreme Court The Bar Admissions Administrator, the Dean of the Alexander Blewett III School of Law, and the chairs of the Commission on Character and Fitness and Board of Bar Examiners shall each submit an annual report to the Montana Supreme Court on bar admissions, and may submit recommendations for Rule revisions when advisable or necessary. E. Petitions to Clerk of Montana Supreme Court Except for petitions requesting permission to be sworn in before another court, the Montana Supreme Court Clerk’s Office may not accept petitions concerning character and fitness, the Montana Uniform Bar Examination, or admission to the State Bar of Montana, unless the petitioner includes a certificate of service showing that a copy of the petition has been properly served upon the Bar Admissions Administrator.