Baird v. State Bar of Arizona

401 U.S. 1 (1971)

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Baird v. State Bar of Arizona

United States Supreme Court
401 U.S. 1 (1971)

SR

Facts

Sara Baird (plaintiff) graduated law school in 1967. Baird took and passed the bar examination for the State of Arizona. In connection with her application for admission to the State Bar of Arizona (defendant), the Arizona Bar Committee (Committee) required Baird to answer whether she had ever been a member of the Communist Party or part of an organization advocating the forceful or violent overthrow of the United States Government. Baird refused to answer this question. The Committee refused to continue to process her application and did not recommend her for admission to the state bar. Baird petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court for an order requiring the Committee to show why she should not be admitted to the bar. The Arizona Supreme Court denied her petition. Baird petitioned the United States Supreme Court for certiorari, which was granted.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Black, J.)

Concurrence (Stewart, J.)

Dissent (Blackmun, J.)

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