Baird v. State Bar of Arizona
United States Supreme Court
401 U.S. 1 (1971)
Relevant factsFree
Sara Baird (plaintiff) passed the Arizona bar exam but refused to answer the state bar committee's question about whether she had ever belonged to the Communist Party or any organization advocating violent overthrow of the government. The committee refused to further process her application or recommend her for admission based on that refusal, and the Arizona Supreme Court denied her petition challenging that decision. The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari.
IssueFree
Whether a state may deny an otherwise qualified bar applicant admission solely because she refuses to disclose her political party membership or associations.