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The editor of this document has emphasized the mistruths in these documents with anunderscore.
JUNE 3, 2009 To the WV Board of Law Examiners
MY FIRST FOIAI am seeking information dated on or about 1977-79 regarding an attorney by the name of James Rowe who took the West Virginia Bar Exam. He purportedly was a licensedattorney in the State of Virginia. However, our evidence shows that he was a graduate of an unapproved law school by the name of International School of Law located inArlington.Our research indicates that it would have been necessary for him to have requested anexception for graduates from unaccredited law schools to take the bar in WV. We aretrying to document "how" he was allowed to take the bar exam in WV.With this goal in mind, I would like to request copies of the WV policy regarding theadmission of law students to take the WV Bar exam. Ancil Ramey has indicated in acourt document that the Board of Examiners had approved a policy for students to takethe law exam from unaccredited law schools. I can provide a copy of that document if you doubt my word in that regard.See this link for Greenbrier County Court RecordIn addition to this, if such a policy did, in fact, exist at that time I would like to have acopy of the minutes of the Board of Examiners for the meeting(s) in which that policywas discussed and subsequently approved including the names of the board of examinerswho were present in the meeting and how each voted.If the policy did not, in fact, exist then I would like to have a copy of the board's minutesindicating the decision (motion, second, and vote tally) to allow an unaccredited lawstudent to take the law exam.This will make it possible to determine if Judge James Rowe had proper authorization totake the bar exam.Of course, I am asking only for public documents and since a public body is bound by itsdecisions and in light of the open meetings law the above decisions would have had to bemade in public and properly recorded in a public document.
 
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RESPONSE TO FIRST FOIAJUNE 4, 2009
--“This is in response to your letter received via email dated June 3, 2009,requesting the West Virginia Policy regarding the admission of law students to take theWV bar exam. The Board adopted a policy,
at least prior to February 1978
, thatapplicants who had graduated from non-AB accredited law schools, but who wereadmitted to the practice of law in another jurisdiction, were permitted to sit for theexamination and, upon successful completion thereof, be recommended for admission tothe practice of law
as James Rowe and at least one other applicant who weregraduates of non-ABA accredited law schools were approved by the Board inFebruary 1978
for admission to the West Virginia State Bar.— 
Nancy A. Green, BarAdmissions
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JUNE 10, 2009--MY SECOND FOIA
Dear Ms. Green:I am not interested in any exempted information about Judge Rowe. Ialready know that he complaints filed. I have the David Ryder recordin hand. You have indicated that "the Board adopted a policy." Unless this issome secret policy that is not public (which I find incomprehensible), Iwant a copy of that policy. I would kindly request that you provide mewith a copy of that "policy" and the date when it was implemented andwhether or not it is still in force. Please redact any exempted materialfrom it and give me a copy of the bare bones policy as it was voted onby the Board.Secondly, you have indicated that the "policy" was "adopted" at leastprior to 1978. The only reason I asked for a copy of the minutes was todiscover who was present at the adoption, the vote on the policy, andthe date of the meeting. The policy will have had a definite beginningdate. Policies traditionally are in force from a date certain (i.e.legislation) which may be in the future (90 days, etc. You seem quitecertain that the admission to the WV State Bar was approved by theBoard in February 1978. And of course, the policy will have had adefinite beginning date. Judge Rowe was a legislator himself so he will know that what I havestated above is the way laws are established and implemented. A rulebody makes a rule, it is recorded by that body's clerk or secretary andis to take effect at a certain time.
 
I have searched diligently through your "exceptions" and cannot findany that exempt the material I am looking for.graduated from a nonABA accredited law school. I am not asking for a record of §29B-1-4. Exemptions.(2) Information of a personal nature such as that kept in a personal,medical or similar file, if the public disclosure thereof would constitutean
unreasonable invasion of privacy,
clear and convincing evidencerequires disclosure in the particular instance: Provided, That nothing inthis article shall be construed as precluding an individual frominspecting or copying his or her own personal, medical or similar file;(8) Internal memoranda or letters received or prepared by any publicbody;
I am not asking for "internal memoranda or letters" received orprepared by any public body. I am asking for a copy of thepolicy and any additional information referred to in yourletter.
 That policy must of democratic necessity have been adopted inan open forum and recorded in an open forum.
I am requesting the West Virginia Policy regarding theadmission of law students to take the WV bar exam.
Your letterindicates that the Board adopted a policy, at least prior to February1978, that applicants who had graduated from non-ABA accredited lawschool, but who were admitted to the practice of law in another jurisdiction, were permitted to sit for the examination and, uponsuccessful completion thereof, be recommended for admission to thepractice of law as James Rowe and at least one other applicant whowere graduates of non-ABA accredited law schools were approved bythe Board in February for admission to the West Virginia State Bar.With respect to your request for the minutes of the Board of LawExaminers meetings, t
hey are exempted under W.Va Code 29B-1-4(2) and (8)
§29B-1-4. Exemptions.(2) Information of a personal nature such as that kept in a personal,medical or similar file, if the public disclosure thereof would constitutean
unreasonable invasion of privacy,
clear and convincing evidencerequires disclosure in the particular instance: Provided, That nothing inthis article shall be construed as precluding an individual frominspecting or copying his or her own personal, medical or similar file;
of 00

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