PER CURIAM.
John Andrew Payne submitted an application for a certificate of fitness to practice law in June 2009. His application revealed that he had an extensive criminal background with multiple felonies and other crimes from 1975 to 1983 and six DUI convictions and one arrest from 1981 to 1995. On December 10, 2009, Payne had an informal conference with
1. "Throughout the application process, the burden rests upon the applicant to establish his or her fitness to practice law. [Cit.]" In the Matter of Lee, 275 Ga. 763, 764, 571 S.E.2d 720 (2002). Furthermore,
In re Cason, 249 Ga. 806, 808, 294 S.E.2d 520 (1982). "Generally, if there is any evidence to support the Board's decision regarding the fitness of a Bar applicant, it will be upheld. [Cit.]" In the Matter of Spence, 275 Ga. 202, 204, 563 S.E.2d 129 (2002).
The evidence shows that Payne's criminal history includes numerous arrests, felony and misdemeanor convictions, and six DUI convictions, and spans almost thirty years, extending not just from his youth but into his mid-forties. The last illegal act cited in the application occurred only seven years prior to the formal hearing. Moreover, the record reveals that Payne was not always completely candid regarding his criminal history. In response to a request on his law school application for a list of any previous criminal conduct, Payne provided only a short summary of his criminal past. After a request for more information by the law school, Payne submitted information regarding his multiple property crime and theft convictions in 1976 but failed to list his extensive criminal conduct prior to 1976 and after 1981. The law school again requested more information, and Payne submitted another supplemental response detailing more of his criminal history but again left off many of his arrests, charges, and convictions. He disclosed one DUI conviction from 1995, but failed to disclose the five other DUI convictions and one other DUI arrest that was nolle prossed. In fact, Payne still was amending his law school application in the Spring of 2010, after the filing of his fitness application. The question then becomes "one of whether these errors and omissions were wilful in order to conceal the whole truth or merely were inadvertent." In re Beasley, 243 Ga. 134, 135(2), 252 S.E.2d 615 (1979). Payne admitted to the Board that he remembered at least some of these omitted criminal incidents, including most of the later DUIs, at the time he was completing his law school application, and thus the omissions were not simply inadvertent. Additionally, he gave no explanation for their omission except to concede that they were improperly withheld. His admission that he consciously omitted parts of his criminal history, his lack of explanation for the omissions, the substantial number of errors and omissions, and the criminal nature of these incidents support the Board's conclusion that Payne wilfully concealed the whole truth. See In re Beasley, supra; In re Cook, 284 Ga. 575, 668 S.E.2d 665 (2008).
The Board also was troubled by Payne's response to Question 25 on the fitness application which asks if the applicant has any condition or impairment including substance abuse which if left untreated could affect his ability to practice law. Payne responded
Payne contends that he has carried his burden of proving rehabilitation because he has successfully held positions of trust in his career, has been happily married to his current wife for over 20 years, has children whom he supports, attends church regularly, and performs various services for his community. However,
In the Matter of Lee, supra. Additionally, much of his community service was in the form of legal externships for which he received law school credit, and thus, although it was well-established that he performed diligently, these activities were not undertaken purely for philanthropic reasons. Payne also asks that we disregard the "any evidence" standard of review cited above and follow our reasoning in In re Ringstaff, 288 Ga. 583, 706 S.E.2d 394 (2011), in which we reversed the Board's denial of fitness certification. However, Ringstaff differs in two significant ways from the present case. First, the Board in Ringstaff, by requiring the applicant to prove rehabilitation as well as fitness despite the fact that she did not have a criminal record and had not previously been disbarred, erred as a matter of law. In re Ringstaff, supra at 584(1), 706 S.E.2d 394. Second, since Payne does have a criminal record, he must prove rehabilitation, and, therefore, he has an additional hurdle to overcome that was inapplicable to the applicant in Ringstaff.
In re Cason, supra at 809, 294 S.E.2d 520. "Where the evidence for and against certification of fitness is in equipoise, the applicant has failed to carry [his] burden [of establishing fitness to practice law], and the Board must deny certification. [Cit.]" In the Matter of White, 283 Ga. 74, 75, 656 S.E.2d 527 (2008). Although Payne has made remarkable advances in his life in the past seven years, the record reveals that he still has an inclination for misleading and evasive behavior regarding inquiries into his criminal past and his medical issues which, at best, shows a complete lack of diligence and judgment, which goes to his fitness, and, at worst, a lack of candor, which goes to his character. His lengthy and substantial history of criminal conduct coupled with his lack of complete candor during the law school application process and the bar application process evidence a lack of judgment and a failure of integrity, character, professionalism, and the requisite moral fitness required of prospective members of the Bar. Accordingly, the Board
2. Payne also contends that the Board's notification letter to him denying his application did not comply with the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law, Part A, Section 8(d), which requires the Board to give its reasons for its decision not to certify an applicant. Payne alleges that the Board failed to articulate the reasons supporting its conclusion that he has failed to meet his burden of proving rehabilitation and establishing present good character and fitness to practice law. However, after stating its conclusion, the Board refers Payne to the April 29, 2010, document titled "Specifications of the Board to Determine Fitness" in which the Board clearly and with much detail lists the multiple reasons why it denied his application. Thus, this contention is without merit.
Denial of certification affirmed.
All the Justices concur.