Reinstatement of Bereano to the Bar

Headline: Disbarred Attorney Alan J. Bereano Reinstated to Maryland Bar After 25 Years

Citation:

Court: Maryland Court of Appeals · Filed: 2026-03-20 · Docket: 31ag/19
Published
Outcome: Plaintiff Win
Impact Score: 75/100 — High impact: This case is likely to influence future legal proceedings significantly.
Legal Topics: attorney-reinstatementprofessional-ethicslegal-ethicsdisbarmentrehabilitation

Case Summary

This case concerns the petition of Alan J. Bereano for reinstatement to the Maryland Bar after his disbarment in 1979. Bereano was disbarred following his conviction for mail fraud and racketeering, stemming from a scheme to defraud the State of Maryland through false invoices for legislative services. After serving his sentence and maintaining a clean record for over two decades, Bereano sought reinstatement. The Court of Appeals reviewed the findings of a three-judge panel, which recommended his reinstatement, acknowledging his remorse, rehabilitation, and the support from numerous individuals, including judges and attorneys. The Court ultimately agreed with the panel's recommendation, finding that Bereano had met the high burden of proving his fitness to practice law again.

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. May contain errors. Consult a licensed attorney for legal advice.

Key Holdings

The court established the following key holdings in this case:

  1. An attorney seeking reinstatement to the bar after disbarment bears the heavy burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that they are worthy of the privilege of practicing law.
  2. Factors considered for reinstatement include the nature and circumstances of the original misconduct, the attorney's recognition of the wrongfulness of their conduct, the attorney's conduct since disbarment, the attorney's present character, and the attorney's present qualifications and competence to practice law.
  3. The passage of a significant amount of time since disbarment, coupled with a clean record and demonstrated rehabilitation, can be a strong factor in favor of reinstatement.
  4. Evidence of remorse, community involvement, and support from legal professionals and community members are relevant in assessing an attorney's rehabilitation and fitness for reinstatement.

Entities and Participants

Judges

Parties

  • Alan J. Bereano (party)
  • Court of Appeals of Maryland (party)
  • Maryland Bar (party)
  • Attorney Grievance Commission (party)

Attorneys

  • Bar Counsel

Frequently Asked Questions (5)

Comprehensive Q&A covering every aspect of this court opinion.

Basic Questions (5)

Q: What was this case about?

This case was about Alan J. Bereano's petition to be reinstated to the Maryland Bar after being disbarred in 1979 due to convictions for mail fraud and racketeering.

Q: Why was Alan J. Bereano disbarred?

Alan J. Bereano was disbarred in 1979 following his conviction for mail fraud and racketeering, which involved a scheme to defraud the State of Maryland through false invoices for legislative services.

Q: What did the Court consider in deciding on reinstatement?

The Court considered the nature of his original misconduct, his remorse, his conduct since disbarment (including a clean record for over 20 years), his present character, and his current qualifications to practice law, along with extensive testimony from supporters.

Q: What was the outcome of the petition for reinstatement?

The Court of Appeals granted Alan J. Bereano's petition for reinstatement to the Maryland Bar.

Q: What is the burden of proof for reinstatement?

An attorney seeking reinstatement after disbarment must prove by clear and convincing evidence that they are worthy of the privilege of practicing law.

Cited Precedents

This opinion references the following precedent cases:

  • In re Hiss
  • In re Raimondi
  • In re Murray
  • In re Trice
  • In re Application of K.B.

Case Details

Case NameReinstatement of Bereano to the Bar
Citation
CourtMaryland Court of Appeals
Date Filed2026-03-20
Docket Number31ag/19
Precedential StatusPublished
OutcomePlaintiff Win
Impact Score75 / 100
Legal Topicsattorney-reinstatement, professional-ethics, legal-ethics, disbarment, rehabilitation
Judge(s)Judge Cathell, Judge Raker, Judge Wilner
Jurisdictionmd

Related Legal Resources

Maryland Court of Appeals Opinions attorney-reinstatementprofessional-ethicslegal-ethicsdisbarmentrehabilitation Judge Judge CathellJudge Judge RakerJudge Judge Wilner md Jurisdiction Know Your Rights: attorney-reinstatementKnow Your Rights: professional-ethicsKnow Your Rights: legal-ethics Home Search Cases Is It Legal? 2026 Cases All Courts All Topics States Rankings attorney-reinstatement Guideprofessional-ethics Guide attorney-reinstatement Topic Hubprofessional-ethics Topic Hublegal-ethics Topic Hub

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