“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

8/4/08

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, took his 34th Alaska Bar Exam July 29-31, 2008. Tom has perseveringly attempted to be licensed to practice law in Alaska over a 24 1/2 year period since February, 1984 and has been given no assistance by Alaska Bar Association over these many years. I have watched Tom study dedicatedly each time for Alaska Bar Exam. How could this have been possible? Why has Tom been required to take Alaska Bar Exam when he has been licensed and practiced 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 time, 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 resides in Alaska and has taken Alaska Bar Exam, Alaska Bar Association Board of Governors http://www.alaskabar.org/index.cfm?id=5746 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 period of 24 years cannot be what lawyers do. This has become a premeditated effort to destroy Tom Obermeyer by denying him his livelihood and attempting to ridicule him as “a failure” as he has been required to continue to pay for, study for, and take Alaska Bar Exam, a test of minimal competency, 34 times for 102 days of his life through negative results most recently May 9, 2008. July 29-31, 2008 Alaska Bar Exam results will be released October 30-31, 2008 at Board of Governors Meeting per http://www.alaskabar.org/index.cfm?id=6730.

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 commonwealth, has four law schools. Let’s create accountability in Alaska.

If Tom’s unfair 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 about $37,000,000,000.00 currently per http://www.apfboardconfirmation.org. Please especially review http://www.apfboardconfirmation.org/moran.html which are Mr. William G Moran Jr.’s astronomical investments monthly from about $8,000,000.00 to $15,000,000.00. Anywhere else in the U.S. the antics of APFB 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.