In Re Cook

William Jerald Cook appeals from the final decision of the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants denying his application for certification of fitness to practice law. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the Board’s decision.

“Throughout the application process, the burden clearly rests upon the applicant to prove that he possesses the requisite character and moral fitness to practice law.” Here, because Cook has a criminal record, he must also prove by clear and convincing evidence that, after the conviction, he has fully and completely rehabilitated himself. Moreover, “ ‘[b]ecause…