Gov. Schwarzenegger urges California bar to let quadriplegic woman take exam

From McClatchy Newspapers:

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, responding July 25 to a story in The Sacramento Bee, called it "outrageous" that the State Bar of California is refusing to let a quadriplegic law school graduate take the July 28 bar exam because of a technical snafu. The governor urged the bar to relent.

The bar's online vendor did not process Sara Granda's electronic application because it did not include credit card information.

Granda is indigent and does not own a credit card. Moreover, she believed it was unnecessary to submit such information because the state Department of Rehabilitation had already paid the $600 application fee by check. She said she checked more than once with a bar representative after the payment was sent and was assured everything was in order for her to take the exam.

But last week — a month after the June 15 final deadline for registering — a bar representative informed Granda, who graduated in May from UC Davis School of Law, that she was not registered and could not take the exam with her classmates.

It is now the bar's position Granda should have submitted credit card information and later sought a refund.

Granda, 29, is paralyzed from the neck down as a result of a car crash when she was 17, and lives on $870 monthly disability benefits. Her health care is covered by Medi-Cal, and the state Department of Rehabilitation has paid for her post-high school education — she has three college degrees. The department also has paid all the fees and costs, including for two preparatory courses, in connection with the bar exam.

"It is outrageous that someone who has overcome so much in life is penalized by a bureaucratic error," Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement that cited the Sacramento Bee story. "Government should work for the people, not against them, and I'm calling on the State Bar to allow Sara Granda to take next week's test.

"Sara is a fighter, and I'm with her all the way," the governor said.

Granda's bid for a temporary restraining order prohibiting the bar from excluding her was denied Friday by a Sacramento federal judge, who suggested she seek help from the state Supreme Court, which has authority over the State Bar.

With the help of Sacramento attorney Stewart Katz, she plans to petition the Supreme Court today for an order directing the bar to let her take the exam.

While bar officials have said they will oppose Granda's petition, they acknowledge the state high court has the power to waive the deadline.

Katz, who is working without compensation, said Saturday he is gratified by Schwarzenegger's public support and hopes it may have a salutary effect.

"I am hopeful the bar will take a hint from the governor and do the right thing," Katz said.