CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. CONSTITUTION OF THE WEST VIRGINIA BAR ASSOCIATION. 1. This Association shall be known as "THE WEST VIRGINIA BAR ASSOCIATION." OBJECT. 2. The Association is formed to advance the science of jurisprudence; to promote reform in the law; to facilitate the administration of justice; to uphold integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession; to encourage thorough liberal education, and to cultivate cordial intercourse among the members of the bar. MEMBERSHIP. 3. The members of the legal profession attending this convention this 8th day of July, 1886, are hereby declared to be members of this Association, provided, they shall, during this present session, pay the admission fee herein after mentioned. Any member of the legal profession of West Virginia, of good standing, residing therein, may become a member of the Association upon nomination and vote, as hereinafter provided. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 4. All nominations for membership shall be made by the Committee on Admissions, and must be transmitted in writing to the President and by him reported to the Association, and the Association shall thereupon vote by ballot. Several nominees may be voted for upon the same ballot, and in such case, placing the word "no" against any name or names upon the ticket, shall be deemed a negative vote against such name or names, and against those only. One negative vote in every five shall suffice to defeat an election. No member of the bar, residing in a county where there is a local Bar Association shall become a member of this Association unless he shall also be a member of such local Association. OFFICERS. 5. The officers of the Association shall be a President, who shall be ineligible to re-election on the expiration of his term; one Vice-President from each Congressional district represented by membership in the Association; a Secretary and Treasurer. All of these shall be elected at the annual meeting and hold their offices till the next annual meeting of the Association and until their successors are elected. A majority of votes shall be necessary to the election of officers, including the election of the Executive Council. Such election shall be by ballot. COMMITTEES. 6. At the annual meetings the Association shall elect an Executive Council, to be composed of five members and the President and Secretary. The President shall, with the approval of the Executive Council, appoint the following standing committees, towit -- A Committee on Admissions. A Committee on Judical Administration and Legal Reform. A Committee on Legal Education. A Committee on Grievances. A Committee on Legal Biography. A majority of the members of every committee who may be present at a meeting of the Association shall constitute a quorum of such committee, for the purpose of such meeting. Every committee shall, at each annual meeting, report in writing a summary of its proceedings since the last annual report, together with any suggestions deemed suitable, and appertaining to its powers, duties or business. A general summary of all such annual reports; and the proceedings of the meetings, shall be prepared and printed by and under the direction of the Executive Council, together with the constitution, by-laws, names and residences of officers, standing committees and members of the Association, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting. FINAL ACTION. 7. No action of this Association of a permanent nature or recommending changes in law or the administration of justice, shall be had until the subject-matter thereof shall have been reported upon by the appropriate committee to which the same shall have been referred, unless this regulation shall be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the members voting thereon. PRESIDENT. 8. The President, or in his absence the Vice-President, senior in years, shall preside at all meetings of the association, and the President shall deliver an address at the opening of the annual meeting next after his election. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 9. This Council shall manage the affairs of the Association, subject to the provisions of the constitution and bylaws, and shall be vested with the title to all its property as trustees thereof, and shall make by-laws for the Association subject to amendment by the Association. COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS. 10. The proceedings of this committee shall be deemed confidential and shall be kept secret so far as written or printed reports of the committee shall be necessary and officially made to the Association. |