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NEWS SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 ¦ 5

Robinson Gives Final Answer:
No to CT Diploma Privileges

By Robert Storace
The hot-button issue of whether to allow di-
ploma privileges for law school graduates in
Connecticut has come to an abrupt end.
Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard
Robinson announced via a letter that there would be
no changes to the Rules Committee of the Superior
Court to allow law school graduates to start practicing.
Granting diploma privileges for 2020 law school
graduates because of COVID-19—as four states
have already done—would have allowed those grad-
uates to become licensed attorneys without having
to take the bar examination.
But, the two-page letter from the chief justice
ends more than a month of speculation, debate and
discussion on the topic.
Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice

A group of law school graduates called Diploma Richard Robinson. Courtesy photo

Privilege for Connecticut had amassed more than “It’s quite disappointing,” said Jess Zaccagnino, a
500 petition signatures in favor of the proposal, in- 2020 University of Connecticut School of Law gradu-
cluding from the state’s three law school deans. ate. “Studying has been so difficult in my apartment.
But that wasn’t enough to sway the chief justice. I’m a big library person and I can’t go to the library.
“I have completed my review of the materials, in- I have roommates and it’s easy to get distracted. I’m
cluding various letters, emails and petitions, as well a high-achieving student, but I’m also dealing with
as the meeting between various stakeholders and the mental health issues. It’s hard to find the motivation
Rules Committee, and I have come to a difficult de- to study, but it’s the most important exam of my life.”
cision that I will not seek a rule change at this time,” Zaccagnino, a member of Diploma Privilege for
Robinson wrote. Connecticut, said, “I do think we did an incredible
Noting logistic and other concerns law school job with our advocacy and we raised a lot of issues
graduates have raised, Robinson said: “I particularly and even heard from the highest court in the state. I
was heartened by the Bar Examining Committee’s hope this is a starting point on how to make the bar
representation that will take into consideration and exam more equitable in the long term.”
attempt to accommodate logistical challenges that Wyatt Bosworth, who also graduated from the
may be faced by disadvantaged or underrepresented University of Connecticut School of Law school this
bar examination applicants.” year, said he’s at a disadvantage with the exam, be-
cause he doesn’t have reliable internet service, and
has roommates working from home.
‘Most Important Exam of My Life’
Students and faculty members who supported “If the Connecticut pass rate [for October] is sub-
diploma privileges say they were disappointed, and stantially lower than normal, the Judicial Branch
many believe there are still logistical issues with the would have failed in their mission to provide a fair
exam.
¦ Continued on PAGE 6

CONNECTICUT
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