Even If This Guy Passes The Bar, Character And Fitness Might Barricade Him From The Profession

This guy... probably shouldn't be a lawyer.

Eminem Rihanna love the way you lieTaking the bar exam is a stressful experience, but if you can’t handle that pressure you probably shouldn’t be a lawyer.

This guy… probably shouldn’t be a lawyer. From the Orlando Sentinel:

Raymond Marshall graduated from law school last year and took the Florida Bar exam last week in hopes of becoming a lawyer.

But that seemingly bright future may be in doubt when, hours after completing the exam, he allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend and barricaded himself inside a home for seven hours Feb. 23 with the Orlando Police SWAT team positioned outside.

He surrendered without incident and is charged with domestic violence aggravated assault.

The fact pattern alleged in the police report is pretty wild. If it was a bar exam question, it might sound something like this:

* Ray comes home from a professional entrance exam, and becomes irritated with his domestic partner. He says to her “I’ll kill you in your sleep.” He then leaves the house again, but returns, apparently intoxicated. After becoming irritated once more, Ray threatens to burn the house down, picks up a gun, throws things around the residence, and punctures a glass stove top with his fists. Ray’s partner reasonably fears for her safety, flees the home, and calls the police. The police arrive and a seven-hour standoff ensues before Ray surrenders peacefully. Ray is guilty of?

A. Bad judgement.
B. Aggravated assault and domestic violence.
C. Being from Florida.
D. Making an Eminem video.

If you answered ‘A’, you might be Marshall’s lawyer:

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His lawyer, John Sirounis, said his client will definitely have hurdles to overcome, but it doesn’t necessarily end his path to becoming a lawyer because he will have a chance to explain his actions in front of the board.

Sirounis said Marshall was under “severe stress and severe insomnia” because of the test.

“He was taking a very strenuous test and he was definitely under severe pressure,” the lawyer said. “It is something that would probably have contributed to how he was feeling that night.”

Thinking about it, this probably won’t be the first time “the bar exam” will be used as an affirmative defense to assault charges.

Cops: Accused barricaded gunman just took the Florida Bar exam [Orlando Sentinel]


Elie Mystal is an editor of Above the Law and the Legal Editor for More Perfect. He can be reached @ElieNYC on Twitter, or at elie@abovethelaw.com. He will resist.

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