Comments on: Bar Exam Blues http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/ Unfair ... Imbalanced Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:24:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Feminist Law Professors » Blog Archive » The SC Bar Exam Scandal: Still No Independent Investigation http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-10793 Feminist Law Professors » Blog Archive » The SC Bar Exam Scandal: Still No Independent Investigation Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:19:25 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-10793 [...] I don’t have any first hand information about any of this, but I’m curious about the authenticity of this reported e-mail: From: Goodstein, Diane S. Law Clerk (Kendall Burch) Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:57 PM To: Nicholson, J. C. Law Clerk (Samantha Adair); Macauley, Alexander S. Law Clerk (Mary Williams); Russo, Thomas A. Law Clerk (Jesse Cartrette); Cothran, Ralph F. Jr., Law Clerk (Anne Hanley) Subject: Bar Exam Hey Y’all, First of all I’m so sorry about the bar exam. This sucks. I need to know if any of you failed the Wills part of the exam and your score. My Dad and Catherine Harrison’s dad have been on the phone with the powers that be, and if we can get a big enough group together that failed the Wills section they are going to take it to the Sup. Ct and see if they’ll regrade our exams. Apparently, the examiner for the Wills section has been asked not come back. We have a slim chance, but I think that it is worth it. So far I have a list of 10 people that have failed the exam. They are Me, REDACTED. If you all know of anyone else that failed the Wills section PLEASE let me know because we need to show the court how outrageous they are. Again, I’m so sorry we all failed. I really can’t believe it. Kendall Burch Source. [...] [...] I don’t have any first hand information about any of this, but I’m curious about the authenticity of this reported e-mail: From: Goodstein, Diane S. Law Clerk (Kendall Burch) Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:57 PM To: Nicholson, J. C. Law Clerk (Samantha Adair); Macauley, Alexander S. Law Clerk (Mary Williams); Russo, Thomas A. Law Clerk (Jesse Cartrette); Cothran, Ralph F. Jr., Law Clerk (Anne Hanley) Subject: Bar Exam Hey Y’all, First of all I’m so sorry about the bar exam. This sucks. I need to know if any of you failed the Wills part of the exam and your score. My Dad and Catherine Harrison’s dad have been on the phone with the powers that be, and if we can get a big enough group together that failed the Wills section they are going to take it to the Sup. Ct and see if they’ll regrade our exams. Apparently, the examiner for the Wills section has been asked not come back. We have a slim chance, but I think that it is worth it. So far I have a list of 10 people that have failed the exam. They are Me, REDACTED. If you all know of anyone else that failed the Wills section PLEASE let me know because we need to show the court how outrageous they are. Again, I’m so sorry we all failed. I really can’t believe it. Kendall Burch Source. [...]

]]> By: Updated Timeline « Not Very Bright http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3919 Updated Timeline « Not Very Bright Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:24:59 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3919 [...] From: Goodstein, Diane S. Law Clerk (Kendall Burch) Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:57 PM To: Nicholson, J. C. Law Clerk (Samantha Adair); Macauley, Alexander S. Law Clerk (Mary Williams); Russo, Thomas A. Law Clerk (Jesse Cartrette); Cothran, Ralph F. Jr., Law Clerk (Anne Hanley) Subject: Bar Exam Hey Y’all, First of all I’m so sorry about the bar exam. This sucks. I need to know if any of you failed the Wills part of the exam and your score. My Dad and Catherine Harrison’s dad have been on the phone with the powers that be, and if we can get a big enough group together that failed the Wills section they are going to take it to the Sup. Ct and see if they’ll regrade our exams. Apparently, the examiner for the Wills section has been asked not come back. We have a slim chance, but I think that it is worth it. So far I have a list of 10 people that have failed the exam. They are Me, REDACTED. If you all know of anyone else that failed the Wills section PLEASE let me know because we need to show the court how outrageous they are. Again, I’m so sorry we all failed. I really can’t believe it. Kendall Burch Source. [...] [...] From: Goodstein, Diane S. Law Clerk (Kendall Burch) Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:57 PM To: Nicholson, J. C. Law Clerk (Samantha Adair); Macauley, Alexander S. Law Clerk (Mary Williams); Russo, Thomas A. Law Clerk (Jesse Cartrette); Cothran, Ralph F. Jr., Law Clerk (Anne Hanley) Subject: Bar Exam Hey Y’all, First of all I’m so sorry about the bar exam. This sucks. I need to know if any of you failed the Wills part of the exam and your score. My Dad and Catherine Harrison’s dad have been on the phone with the powers that be, and if we can get a big enough group together that failed the Wills section they are going to take it to the Sup. Ct and see if they’ll regrade our exams. Apparently, the examiner for the Wills section has been asked not come back. We have a slim chance, but I think that it is worth it. So far I have a list of 10 people that have failed the exam. They are Me, REDACTED. If you all know of anyone else that failed the Wills section PLEASE let me know because we need to show the court how outrageous they are. Again, I’m so sorry we all failed. I really can’t believe it. Kendall Burch Source. [...]

]]> By: Fred http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3888 Fred Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:54:40 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3888 Cheese n rice....do you really think 2 people grade these things? Seriously? And just for the record....just how do you know 400 people passed the WTE section. Hell, for all you know 300 could have failed that one section. Results aren't given to those that pass...they just know they passed. So....your apparently isn't so apparent anymore. I don't know what happened....but I do know what happened on Tuesday. Cheese n rice….do you really think 2 people grade these things? Seriously? And just for the record….just how do you know 400 people passed the WTE section. Hell, for all you know 300 could have failed that one section. Results aren’t given to those that pass…they just know they passed. So….your apparently isn’t so apparent anymore.

I don’t know what happened….but I do know what happened on Tuesday.

]]> By: What? http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3914 What? Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:05:05 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3914 Kudos Regina, isn't it great how bad grammar can exemplify sarcasm? Kudos Regina, isn’t it great how bad grammar can exemplify sarcasm?

]]> By: Cheese'n'Rice http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3915 Cheese'n'Rice Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:04:17 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3915 Fred - Two DIFFERENT people graded your WTE section. TWO. YOU FAILED both times. Scoring error, my ass. Apparently, over 400 other people didn't have problems passing either that section or 6 others. Don't fool yourself. Hell, I thought Contracts II was easy, and I nailed a C+. I also thought Secured Transactions was hard and I got an A. Must've been scoring errors on both. Call a spade a spade. You'll gain a whole lot more respect that way. Fred -

Two DIFFERENT people graded your WTE section. TWO. YOU FAILED both times. Scoring error, my ass. Apparently, over 400 other people didn’t have problems passing either that section or 6 others.

Don’t fool yourself. Hell, I thought Contracts II was easy, and I nailed a C+. I also thought Secured Transactions was hard and I got an A.
Must’ve been scoring errors on both.

Call a spade a spade. You’ll gain a whole lot more respect that way.

]]> By: Judge Jean http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3912 Judge Jean Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:36:28 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3912 Did anyone see that the Speaker’s brother is on the JMSC? One of the candidates JMSC will be reviewing will be none other than … the now-former partner of John Harell. As with the bar exams, it’s all just coincidence, right? Did anyone see that the Speaker’s brother is on the JMSC? One of the candidates JMSC will be reviewing will be none other than … the now-former partner of John Harell.

As with the bar exams, it’s all just coincidence, right?

]]> By: Skeptic http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3913 Skeptic Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:01:55 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3913 Fred-- Sorry if you misinterpreted my comment (and vice-versa). Naturally, if you thought the WTE section was easy, then you would have been right to presume that you passed the section. But simply because you didn't pass the section does not a fortiori mean there was an error. You are an innocent bystander. If there was a grading error, then you were definitely a victim of that. If there wasn't, then you are an innocent bystander (perhaps innocent beneficiary might also be an apt term) in a situation caused by others' alleged wrongdoing. It wouldn't surprise me if this situation involved a little of everything. There may have been some kind of grading error. There may also have been some improper contact. Even assuming there was some kind of error, the fact remains that some people likely violated the no-contact rule. But the violation of that rule may very well have led to the discovery and remedy of the error. Its the probable violation of the rule and the perceived hubris that bothers people--not that a few extra, innocent people passed as a result. Fred–

Sorry if you misinterpreted my comment (and vice-versa). Naturally, if you thought the WTE section was easy, then you would have been right to presume that you passed the section. But simply because you didn’t pass the section does not a fortiori mean there was an error. You are an innocent bystander. If there was a grading error, then you were definitely a victim of that. If there wasn’t, then you are an innocent bystander (perhaps innocent beneficiary might also be an apt term) in a situation caused by others’ alleged wrongdoing.

It wouldn’t surprise me if this situation involved a little of everything. There may have been some kind of grading error. There may also have been some improper contact. Even assuming there was some kind of error, the fact remains that some people likely violated the no-contact rule. But the violation of that rule may very well have led to the discovery and remedy of the error. Its the probable violation of the rule and the perceived hubris that bothers people–not that a few extra, innocent people passed as a result.

]]> By: Fred http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3889 Fred Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:56:15 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3889 Oh and skeptic....I hope you can tell the difference in a mistake in grading and a flawed question. I have never said the question was flawed. I thought it was a very straight forward question about non probate assets and a will. What you are attempting to say and what I am saying are two totally different and unrelated things. Oh and skeptic….I hope you can tell the difference in a mistake in grading and a flawed question. I have never said the question was flawed. I thought it was a very straight forward question about non probate assets and a will. What you are attempting to say and what I am saying are two totally different and unrelated things.

]]> By: Fred http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3895 Fred Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:51:53 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3895 Skeptic....try reading what I said instead of putting words into my mouth. I thought it was easy, I thought I passed that section. There is no way my score on the UCC should have been higher than the WTE...no way. Not saying I didn't fail it but I sure as hell was shocked when I saw my score. Now if it would have been Civil Procedure, which I suck at, then no wondering. Again, I thought the WTE question was easier than my law school exam on the subject. Why is it so hard for some of you to believe it might have actually been an innocent mistake? Not saying it was but it is a possibility, just as it is a possibility it was a back door deal. I don't know and I got a feeling none of us will ever know. After tomorrow they can do whatever they want....I will have my license then. Again...I had nothing to do with this mess. I am just grateful I don't have to take it over again. I have no idea why the Sup. Ct. decided to toss it. I would have supported a regrading instead of tossing a whole section. It makes no sense. Even though I benefited I understand what it would feel like to be on the other side. It would hurt. As post 22 states.....I am an innocent bystander who didn't even attend law school in SC, although I did attend USC for a semester. I don't know any of the parties involved in this mess....just hate that I am somehow involved now....and not by my choosing. Skeptic….try reading what I said instead of putting words into my mouth. I thought it was easy, I thought I passed that section. There is no way my score on the UCC should have been higher than the WTE…no way. Not saying I didn’t fail it but I sure as hell was shocked when I saw my score. Now if it would have been Civil Procedure, which I suck at, then no wondering. Again, I thought the WTE question was easier than my law school exam on the subject. Why is it so hard for some of you to believe it might have actually been an innocent mistake? Not saying it was but it is a possibility, just as it is a possibility it was a back door deal. I don’t know and I got a feeling none of us will ever know. After tomorrow they can do whatever they want….I will have my license then.

Again…I had nothing to do with this mess. I am just grateful I don’t have to take it over again. I have no idea why the Sup. Ct. decided to toss it. I would have supported a regrading instead of tossing a whole section. It makes no sense. Even though I benefited I understand what it would feel like to be on the other side. It would hurt. As post 22 states…..I am an innocent bystander who didn’t even attend law school in SC, although I did attend USC for a semester. I don’t know any of the parties involved in this mess….just hate that I am somehow involved now….and not by my choosing.

]]> By: Anon http://www.fitsnews.com/2007/11/11/bar-exam-blues/comment-page-1/#comment-3911 Anon Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:32:51 +0000 http://69.89.31.161/~fitsnews/?p=2071#comment-3911 Hey Rob -- No one would blame anyone if all they had done was "cling to every possible chance of passing" But once they DIDN'T PASS, then I absolutely have the right to be LIVID that they broke the rules of ethics -- and I have to say that this has to be some kind of record to publically admit what amounts to an ethical violation before you have even had the chance to be sworn in -- to get their grades changed. And as it has been pointed out MULTIPLE times, it's not like they only failed one section -- you have to fail two to be a fail grade. The worst part is that, as a lot of lawyers have stated to me in conversations about this, evidence of their stupidity doesn't rest with failing the Bar -- lots of smart people have done that before. No, evidence of their real stupidity is going online (either by e-mail or on Facebook) and talking about it. With this kind of record, it won't be the last you see of these two. If they can't keep their mouths shut about this, they have no chance of keeping their clients' information confidential. I can see it now -- Catherine Harrison goes online and brags about how one of her clients is hiding tons of discovery documents and isn't that funny, only to be astonished when the other side looks up her Facebook entry. Kendall Burch e-mails other people and asks them if they too are hiding documents. And how does anyone licensed to practice law (or soon to be on November 13) not know that e-mails and instant messaging can always be dug up and in this day and age are always asked for. I don't care who you know personally -- both these girls have to be IDIOTS!!! And not only IDIOTS, but IDIOTS who will not hesitate to contact their politically-connected daddies when they screw up. Both of them need to grow up. Obviously, getting through college, law school and a few months of working haven't done the trick -- as an attorney who has practiced 15 years and is trying to raise two children to be decent and upstanding citizens, they are the epitome of exactly what we try to teach our children not to be -- adults who don't take responsibility or the consequences of their own actions. As long as their daddies keep bailing them out, they never will. Hey Rob — No one would blame anyone if all they had done was “cling to every possible chance of passing” But once they DIDN’T PASS, then I absolutely have the right to be LIVID that they broke the rules of ethics — and I have to say that this has to be some kind of record to publically admit what amounts to an ethical violation before you have even had the chance to be sworn in — to get their grades changed. And as it has been pointed out MULTIPLE times, it’s not like they only failed one section — you have to fail two to be a fail grade. The worst part is that, as a lot of lawyers have stated to me in conversations about this, evidence of their stupidity doesn’t rest with failing the Bar — lots of smart people have done that before. No, evidence of their real stupidity is going online (either by e-mail or on Facebook) and talking about it. With this kind of record, it won’t be the last you see of these two. If they can’t keep their mouths shut about this, they have no chance of keeping their clients’ information confidential. I can see it now — Catherine Harrison goes online and brags about how one of her clients is hiding tons of discovery documents and isn’t that funny, only to be astonished when the other side looks up her Facebook entry. Kendall Burch e-mails other people and asks them if they too are hiding documents. And how does anyone licensed to practice law (or soon to be on November 13) not know that e-mails and instant messaging can always be dug up and in this day and age are always asked for. I don’t care who you know personally — both these girls have to be IDIOTS!!! And not only IDIOTS, but IDIOTS who will not hesitate to contact their politically-connected daddies when they screw up. Both of them need to grow up. Obviously, getting through college, law school and a few months of working haven’t done the trick — as an attorney who has practiced 15 years and is trying to raise two children to be decent and upstanding citizens, they are the epitome of exactly what we try to teach our children not to be — adults who don’t take responsibility or the consequences of their own actions. As long as their daddies keep bailing them out, they never will.

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