THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. V. The Executive Committee shall meet before each annual meeting, and at such other times as the chairman of the committee shall indicate by call. This committee shall report at each annual meeting its doings, and make such suggestions to the Association as, in its opinion, require the action of the Association. COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS. VI. The proceedings of the Committee on Admissions shall be secret and confidential. They shall report at each annual meeting the names of those recommended for membership. This committee shall meet the day before each annual meeting, and at such other time or times as they may be called together by the chairman. DUES FROM APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP. VII. When the Committee on Admission of Members has approved the name of an applicant for membership in the Association, the Treasurer shall promptly notify such person of the action of the committee; and such person shall, upon this notice, remit to the Treasurer five dollars as annual dues for the current year. If the Association, at its next annual meeting, rejects such candidate, the Treasurer shall refund said sum. ANNUAL DUES. VIII. The annual dues shall be payable at the annual meeting, in advance. If any member neglects to pay them for any year at or before the next annual meeting, he shall cease to be a member. The Treasurer shall give notice of this by-law within sixty days after said meeting to all members in default. OTHER STANDING COMMITTEES. IX. Each of the other standing committees shall meet on call of the chairman of the same. COMMITTEE ON GRIEVANCES. (As amended July 10, 1900.) X. Whenever any complaint shall be preferred against a member of the Association for misconduct in his relations to the Association, or in his profession, the person or persons preferring such complaint shall present the same to the Committee on Grievances, in writing, subscribed by the complaining party, plainly stating the matter complained of. If the committee is of the opinion that the matters therein alleged are of sufficient importance, it shall cause a copy of the complaint, together with a notice, of not less than thirty days, of the time and place where the committee shall meet for the consideration thereof, to be served upon the member complained of, either personally or by leaving the same at his place of business during office hours, properly addressed to him; and it shall cause a similar notice to be served on the party presenting the complaint. At the time and place appointed, or at such other time as may be named by the committee, the member complained of may file a written answer or defense, and the committee shall proceed to the consideration of the case upon such complaint and answer, or upon the complaint alone, if no answer is interposed. The complainant and the member complained of shall each be allowed to appear personally and by counsel, who must be members of the Association, and shall produce their witnesses. The witnesses shall vouch for the truth of their statements on their word of honor. The committee may summon witnesses, and, if such witnesses are members of the Association, a neglect or refusal to appear may be reported to the Association for its action. Before the trial shall commence, the member complained of may object peremptorily to any one or more of the committee, not exceeding three; and the place of those objected to shall be supplied, for the purposes of trial, by appointment by a majority of the remaining members of the committee who are in attendance. The committee, of whom at least seven must be present at the trial, except that a less number may adjourn from time to time, shall hear and decide the case thus submitted to them, and shall determine all questions of evidence. If it finds the complaint, or any material part of it, to be true, it shall so report to the next annual meeting of the Association, with its recommendations as to the action to be taken thereon, and, requested by either party, may, in its discretion, also report the evidence taken or any designated part thereof. The Association shall thereupon proceed to take such action on said report as it may see fit: Provided, however, That no member shall be expelled unless by the vote of twothirds of the members present and voting. Whatever specific charges of fraud, or gross unprofessional conduct, shall be made in writing to the Association by a reputable person against a member of the Bar not a member of the Association, or against a person pretending to be an attorney, practicing in this State, said charges may be investigated by the Committee on Grievances; and if, in any such case, said committee shall report in writing to the Executive Committee that, in its opinion, the case is such as requires further investigation, or prosecution in the courts, the Execu tive Committee may appoint one or more members of the Association to act as prosecutor, whose duty it shall be to conduct the further investigation or the prosecution of such offender, under the instructions and control of the Committee on Grievances. Whenever any complaint shall be made in writing to the Association concerning any other grievance touching the practice of law or the administration of justice, the Committee on Grievances shall make such preliminary investigation into the same as it may deem necessary in order to determine whether it is expedient that any further action shall be taken thereon. Should such further action be, in its opinion, expedient, the committee shall report in writing to the Executive Committee that, in its opinion, the charge or charges are of such a character as to require further investigation. Thereupon the Executive Committee may direct such further investigation by the Committee on Grievances, or otherwise as it may deem most suitable to the case. Upon the termination of such investigation, a report thereon shall be made to the Executive Committee, and if the said committee shall find the complaint or any material part of it to be of such a nature as to require action by the Association, it shall so report to the Association, with its recommendation as to the action to be taken thereon, and it may also report the evidence taken, or any part thereof. The reasonable disbursements of the Committee on Grievances for expenses incurred in any trial, prosecution or investigation may be paid out of the funds of the Association under the direction of the Executive Committee. All the foregoing proceedings shall be secret, except as their publication is hereinbefore provided for, unless otherwise or dered by the Association by a two-thirds vote. |