The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School application includes a character and fitness section, and the first question on that section covers criminal history. It’s broad, and it’s meant to be.
The Question
Excluding parking violations, have you ever been cited, including the paying of fines, even as a juvenile, detained, arrested, formally accused, or prosecuted for the violation of any law?
What “Disclose Everything” Actually Means
This question does not leave room for interpretation based on outcome. You must disclose each instance even if the charges were dismissed, you were acquitted, you pled nolo contendere, an adjudication was withheld, you were pardoned, a conviction was reversed, set aside, or vacated, or the record was sealed or expunged. It does not matter whether a judge, a lawyer, or anyone else has told you that a particular instance doesn’t need to be reported. If it happened, it goes on the application.
This includes juvenile citations. An incident from years before you turned eighteen still falls under this question if it involved a citation, fine, detention, arrest, or formal charge.
Documentation Is Required
Every instance you disclose needs supporting documentation. That means court records, dispositions, or other official paperwork showing how the matter was resolved. Start gathering these now rather than waiting until your application is otherwise complete. Court records can take time to request, especially for older cases or cases in another state.
Open Charges Will Hold Up Your File
The Office of Admissions cannot complete an applicant’s file while there are open or pending criminal charges. If you have a matter still working its way through the court system, resolve it before you expect your file to move forward.
This Isn’t the Last Time You’ll Answer This Question
The bar fitness application asks a nearly identical question when you apply to sit for the bar exam. Keep every piece of documentation you gather now. You will need it again, and pulling old court records a second time is far harder than keeping a file the first time around.