State Bar of Texas President Sylvia Borunda Firth released the following statement April 4 on the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari in the McDonald v. Firth case regarding the mandatory bar in Texas.

“We are pleased the Court continues to recognize the longstanding precedent that supports the mandatory bar structure. Thirty other states and the District of Columbia use a mandatory bar structure because it is a proven, effective way to regulate the legal profession and improve the quality of legal services provided to the public. The State Bar of Texas will continue to serve Texas lawyers and the public in fulfillment of its statutory and constitutional obligations.”