Washington high court says convicted sex offender can practice law
A sharply divided Washington Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a man who was previously convicted of a sex offense and other crimes can be licensed as an attorney.
The 5-4 decision clears the way for Zachary LeRoy Stevens, who graduated from Arizona State University’s law school in 2018, to practice law in Washington.
The opinion said Stevens had a difficult childhood in Utah and sought refuge online, where in 2006 he sent pornographic images of minors to a detective posing as a 14-year-old. He was charged in 2010 with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of voyeurism, which required him to register as a sex offender.
If he paid his debt to society and received the necessary education, he should be able to practice law. Sometimes common sense manages to shine through.
Agreed.
Way to go! Best of luck to Zachary!
That’s amazing! God is good!
It seems absurd that anyone who has such intimate experience with the legal system would NOT be allowed to practice law!
Who better to understand than some who has had to pay the closest attention to absurd procedures than a someone forced to live with the label of “Registered Sex Offender”!
Good news. Hopefully a sign of things to come — I’m supposed to hear back on my bar admission next week.
We will keep our fingers crossed!!!
That means absolutely nothing in Florida. If you were convicted of a felony, you were automatically disbarred. The only way you can get your license back as if you’re civil rights our first restored in as we know, that’s not going to happen in Florida boring executive clemency which is not forthcoming.
If you read the judge’s decision it should give you hope. She was brave and right!