In re Hamm: From Behind Bars to the Arizona Bar?

Five years after graduating from law school, James Hamm filed for admission to the Arizona State Bar. As an applicant for admission, Hamm was rather unique—he had a conviction for first-degree murder, stemming from a 1974 drug deal and robbery. This conviction, along with other concerns, led the Arizona Supreme Court to deny his admission to the Arizona State Bar, finding that Hamm “failed to meet his burden of proving that he is of good moral character.”