“Our government. . .teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” ~ Justice Louis Brandeis

6/6/08

This site is an attempt to give the reader some idea of the issues Tom and Theresa Obermeyer have raised for 30 years of residency in Alaska.

Thomas S. Obermeyer, Attorney, licensed since 1990 by similar Missouri Bar Exam, a state that has reciprocity with Alaska, has perseveringly worked to be licensed to practice law in Alaska over a 24 year period since February, 1984 and has been given no assistance by Alaska Bar Association over these many years. How could this have been possible? Why has Tom been required to take Alaska Bar Exam when he has been licensed to practice law in Missouri and has taken 15 hours of CLE there yearly for 18 years? Why has he been given no options by Alaska Bar Association including a possible clerkship, more education, or assistance of any kind? Can the reader imagine how much money and effort we have expended in good faith in order to create fair Alaska law licensure? If Tom had never landed on Alaska soil, he would simply pay $1,000 and be licensed to practice law in Alaska by reciprocity. Because he lives in Alaska and has taken Alaska Bar Exam, Alaska Bar Association Board of Governors enforce Bar Rules 2.2(b)(3) and 43.1(c) approved by Alaska Supreme Court requiring that he can be licensed only by examination. What Alaska Bar Association Board of Governors has done over a 24 year period cannot be what lawyers do. This has become a premeditated effort to destroy Tom Obermeyer by denying him his livelihood as he has been required to continue to pay for, study for, and take Alaska Bar Exam 33 times for 99 days of his life, a test of minimal competency, through negative results most recently May 9, 2008.

Alaska Bar Rules 2.2(b)(3) and 43.1(c) discriminate against any attorney residing in Alaska who has been admitted to practice law in a reciprocal state. About half of the states in U.S. have reciprocity with Alaska. Attorneys licensed in reciprocal states living here should be given at least as much assistance in obtaining Alaska law license by Alaska Bar Association as attorneys who have never landed on Alaska soil. The other 49 states all have law schools, options for law licensure, and elected attorneys. Alaska has none of these. Puerto Rico, a territory, has four law schools. Let’s create accountability in Alaska.

Tom should be sworn in immediately. If his treatment is allowed to continue, Alaska Bar Association should be sunset by 26th Alaska Legislature 1st Session when they convene on January 20, 2009 per http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/25/Bills/HB0022Z.PDF.

At the same time, Alaska Permanent Fund Board (APFB) and Mr. Mike Burns, who has never attempted to be licensed to practice law in Alaska, control almost $40,000,000,000.00 per http://www.apfboardconfirmation.org. Please review Alaska Statute 37.13.050(a) “The Board of Trustees of Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation consists of six members appointed by the Governor.” Therefore, APFB is not confirmed by Alaska Legislature. APFB members and Mr. Burns have been allowed to make “Individual Investment Transaction Disclosures (IITDs)” or astronomical investments in the Stock Market to enrich their private bank accounts for many years. Anywhere else in the U.S. the antics of APFB and Mr. Burns would be prosecuted as “insider trading.” Why do we Alaskans allow this to continue?

Alaska Permanent Fund is owned by all Alaskans as an entitlement of Alaska residency at the same time Alaska residency assures unfair Alaska law licensure.

These issues should be publicly debated during the Primary and General Elections Tuesday, August 26, 2008 and Tuesday, November 4, 2008 respectively.

Let’s celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Alaska Statehood on January 3, 2009 knowing that there is fair Alaska law licensure.

Disclaimer:
This site is the sole effort and responsibility of Theresa Nangle Obermeyer.