Mental health might be changed, dropped from Bar application

LANSING (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court is exploring whether to drop questions about mental health on the application for a Michigan law license.

The application for admission to the State Bar asks people if their judgment has been affected by a treated or untreated mental or emotional condition. The Supreme Court is seeking public comment about whether the questions should still be included or changed.

The court says the U.S. Justice Department in 2014 told Louisiana that it should focus on an applicant's conduct, not a mental-health diagnosis or treatment. At least nine states have dropped questions about mental health.

Justice Richard Bernstein says the State Bar application process already is an "intensive inquiry" involving finances, academic records and past employment.

Comments can be sent by May 1 to: ADMcomment@courts.mi.gov.