A client of Ray and Bishop was denied a teaching credential due to criminal convictions related to academic dishonesty and theft that happened while he was in college.   We disagreed with the Committee’s recommendation because the convictions were over eight years old and no longer relevant to the person the applicant had become.  We therefore demanded a hearing before an administrative law judge.  The CTC refused to offer settlement, so the matter had to go to hearing.

At the administrative hearing, the administrative law judge agreed with our arguments that the applicant had shown rehabilitation and good character.  The administrative law judge therefore proposed that the teacher applicant be granted a clear credential.  The California Commissioner on Teacher Credentialing reviewed the decision and voted to adopt the proposed decision, granting the teacher a clear teaching credential.