This undated photo provided by Kentucky State Police shows Guy Padraic Hamilton-Smith, a University of Kentucky law school graduate, who is battling to be allowed to take the bar exam. (Image source: AP/Kentucky State Police)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man on a sex offender registry is pushing the state's Supreme Court to allow him to take the bar exam and become a practicing lawyer.
Guy Padraic Hamilton-Smith, of Lexington, plans to ask the justices by Jan. 13 to reconsider a decision that he lacks the moral character to join the bar.
Hamilton-Smith graduated in the top third of his law school class, but the Kentucky Supreme Court last month blocked him from taking the bar exam because he is on the registry.
Hamilton-Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a child in March 2007 and received a five-year suspended sentence. He was also required to register as a sex offender until 2027.
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