In a heavily abridged decision released yesterday, the tribunal says the law society was justified in refusing to issue the certificate for which Mr Guest applied after he was reinstated to the High Court's roll of barristers and solicitors last year.
The grounds for the decision and details of the appeal and the evidence presented were all suppressed pending further submissions.
Mr Guest, a Dunedin city councillor, yesterday was disappointed with the decision but said he could not comment further while the process continued.
Asked if he intended to appeal, he said he had "two or three weeks up my sleeve for that".
A Justice Ministry source said Mr Guest had until late next week to make further submissions on the suppression orders. He could also appeal the decision.
Mr Guest, a former district court judge, was struck off in 2001 after he was found guilty on two counts of professional misconduct for lying to a client and for taking $25,000 more of her funds for costs than he was entitled to.
He was reinstated to the High Court's roll of barristers and solicitors in October after a two-day hearing in July 2009.
This meant he could resume providing legal services in areas other than reserved areas of work, such as representing, or giving legal advice to, anyone involved in court proceedings.
He could call himself an "enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court", but needed a practising certificate to take on the role of lawyer, law practitioner, legal practitioner, barrister, attorney or counsel.
Practising certificates are issued by the law society, which opposed Mr Guest's reinstatement to the roll. It subsequently refused his application for a practising certificate.
Under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act, the society can refuse to issue a certificate on the grounds a person is not a "fit and proper person".
A law society spokesman did not return calls yesterday.
