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An Act Of Moral Turpitude : A Wide Range Of Deceitful And Depraved Behavior

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Moral Turpitude Ms.Hart likely engaged in an act of moral turpitude. Moral turpitude is “a wide range of deceitful and depraved behavior.” In re Glass, 316 P. 3d 1199, 1212 (Cal. 2014). Public policy suggests that “honesty is absolutely fundamental in the practice of law.” Id. Moreover, an applicant’s moral turpitude is particularly egregious when committed by a law school graduate. Id. See Glass, 167 Cal. Rptr. at 1212 (stating Glass 's misconduct constituting moral turpitude was particularly reprehensible because he was pursuing a law degree and should have understood the significance of honesty.) However, if the applicant’s misconduct is a single lapse, it can sometimes be excused, as “everyone can make a mistake or be innocently misled.” Pacheco, 741 P.2d at 1143. See Glass, 316 P.3d. at 1214 (stating as dicta that had Glass’s journalistic dishonesty been a single lapse in judgement, it could be excused.) ; See Pacheco, 741 P.2d at 1143 (stating that Pacheco’s employer developed the plan). An applicant’s single act of misconduct can be sufficient to establish moral turpitude if it involved dishonesty and deceit. In Bernstein, Hayes Bernstein (“Bernstein”) applied for admission to the bar and was denied based on a pattern of moral turpitude, involving a divorce action where he forged his ex wife’s name on a check. Bernstein v. Comm. of Bar Exam’rs, 443 P.2d 570, 572. The court held that the bar applicant had engaged in moral turpitude based on deceit and dishonesty

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