The Delaware Bar Examination -- which one must pass to practice law in
the state -- has a reputation of being one of the toughest in America.
Statistics support that notion. Last year only 57 percent of aspiring
attorneys passed the Delaware exam, a lower figure than all but two
states, California and New Hampshire.
The test proved to be a hurdle for Democratic Attorney General candidate
Beau Biden, who failed three times between 1994 and 1996 before passing in
2001. Biden had passed the Maryland exam on his first try in 1996.
His opponent, Republican Ferris Wharton, passed Delaware’s exam on his
first attempt in 1978.
In today’s Internet-fueled political environment, Biden’s travails have
become fodder for the rumor mill and blogosphere.
But does it matter?
Experts and supporters of both candidates said no, that Biden’s old exam
results have no bearing on his ability to run the Delaware Department of
Justice.
Biden’s performance on the exam came to The News Journal’s attention in
recent days, when a poster on the paper’s online Story Chat made
references to the failures. “Beau Biden couldn't even pass the bar exam
without multiple tries - I certainly don't want to depend on HIS
leadership when my family or I need justice,’’ wrote the poster with the
code name “CitizenD.’’ The newspaper could not learn the poster’s
identity.
Under Delaware law, the attorney general doesn’t even have to be an
attorney.
Experts say that while multiple failures might raise questions about
someone’s aptitude, bar exams are high-pressure tests that can confound
someone with a sharp legal mind and skills. Delaware attorneys on both
sides of the race agree.
Delaware is one of 30 states that has no limit on how many times someone
can take the exam.
“I’ve seen many good prosecutors who have failed the bar on a couple of
occasions,’’ said Wilmington attorney Jeffrey K. Martin, a Republican
supporter of Wharton. “I really don’t think it’s a reflection of one’s
legal abilities. ... Much of it is pure cramming and rote memory.’’
Biden, who provided the newspaper with details of his failures when asked
last week, said his experience with the exam has proven to be a plus.
“Never giving up matters,’’ Biden said. “As my granddad used to say, ‘The
measure of success is not how many times you get knocked down but how many
times you get up.’ I got up and did it. You keep plugging away.’’
Wharton and his campaign staffers said they had heard stories about
Biden’s failures but did not know details until a reporter told them last
week.
“I’m surprised he sat for the exam that many times,’’ said Wharton, who
like his aides and state GOP leaders would not comment further.
Wharton’s camp has made Biden’s relative inexperience an issue. Wharton,
54, has been a state and federal prosecutor for 25 years. Biden. 37, was a
federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia before he began
practicing in Delaware in 2002.
Erica Moeser, president of the National Conference of Bar Examiners,
doubted Delaware voters would be concerned with a candidate’s previous
test failures.
“It would surprise me if amongst the issues that are surely of
importance,’’ Moeser said, “that this one would be at the top of the heap
or even in the top 100.’’
Micah J. Yarborough, a Widener University law school professor who runs
the Delaware Bar Review course, said some people might question Biden’s
aptitude, as was the case with the late John F. Kennedy Jr. when he failed
the New York exam twice before passing.
For a voter, “it would be reasonable to say, ‘Oh, it took this person
three times to take the bar as opposed to the other candidate who passed
it the first time,’’’ Yarborough said. “But I don’t necessarily equate
that with leadership ability. It might matter but it wouldn’t be something
that most people would say would be a deciding factor.’’
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There will be two types of voters for this race. One will vote for name only and the other will vote for the person with experience.
If Beau’s last name wasn’t Biden he wouldn’t even be in this race. Ferris Wharton’s experience dedication to the people of Delaware he has served for 25 years working under the Delaware Attorney General makes him the best choice and the right choice.
It is a pitiful shame that Ferris Wharton has to lower himself to play politics for the top spot in the division of the state government he has been working all these years. Beau Biden steps and decide he want the job and we all must bow to the Biden name!
The State Police, County Police , Wilmington Police and even the Newport Police have the right stuff to fight crime however, the State Police and Wilmington needs a 25% increase in the number of police officers.
Beau Biden wants some Hollywood AG CSI crime fighting team on the streets and that the last thing we need. If Beau Biden wins it will be a very sad day for justice in Delaware and I am sure 50% of the current employees in the AG’s office will bail out and not be will to work under Beau Biden. Beau might be so kind of crown prince of Delaware who has been groomed by his father however; Ferris Wharton is a seasoned professional full a passion and commitment to serving the people of Delaware. Ferris has groomed himself for success through his honesty
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