State Bar Association

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I.

Name.

This Association shall be known as the Washington State Bar Association.

ARTICLE II.
Objects.

Section 1. This Association is formed to advance the science of jurisprudence; to promote the administration of justice; to secure proper legislation; to encourage a thorough legal education; to uphold the honor and dignity of the profession of law, and to cultivate and encourage cordial intercourse among the lawyers of the State of Washington.

Sec. 2. It shall not take any partisan political action, nor endorse or recommend any person for official position.

ARTICLE III.
Members.

Section 1. The membership of the Association shall consist of the members of the County and City Bar Associations of the State that have been approved by the Association or by the Board of Trustees thereof, whose names and yearly dues are forwarded to the Secretary of the Associationffi provided, however, that this provision shall not operate to terminate the membership of any person now a member of the Association; and, provided further, that members of the bar of this State residing in Counties having no affiliated local association, who make application therefor, may be elected to membership in the manner provided in this Constitution and By-Laws.

Sec. 2. Distinguished non-resident lawyers may be elected honorary members by a vote of the Association, and shall have a voice but no vote at the meetings of the Association.

Sec. 3. All applications made directly to the Association for membership therein must be in writing, signed by the applicant, stating his name, age, residence, and date of admission to practice in the Supreme or Superior court, or commission to the bench; endorsed by three or more members of the Association, and must be accompanied by the usual fee.

Sec. 4. A list of applications as above provided, that have been approved by the Committee on Membership during the interim of the meetings of the Asosciation, shall be reported at each annual meeting, and such persons so approved shall then be deemed admitted as

members of the Association, unless a vote upon them, or any of them, is demanded, in which case a ballot shall be had upon such person or persons, and such person or persons shall be deemed rejected unless four-fifths of the members present and voting shall vote in favor of his or their admission.

Sec. 5. Rejected applicants shall not be again proposed within one year after their rejection.

ARTICLE IV.
Officers.

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be a president, a secretary, a treasurer, and seven trustees; these officers, with the exception of the trustees, shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Association.

Sec. 2. The president of the Association shall be ineligible for re-election to such office, until one year after the expiration of the term for which he was so elected.

Sec. 3. The trustees shall be composed of the president, and secretary of the Association, and five additional members to be appointed by the president, and shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Association and until their successors are chosen.

ARTICLE V.
Elections.

Section 1. The officers of the Association, with the exception of the trustees, shall be elected at the annual meeting, to serve one year and until their successors are chosen. All elections shall be by ballot.

ARTICLE VI.
Meetings.

Section 1. The annual meeting shall be held at such place as the Association shall determine at the preceding annual meeting, on the last Thursday in July in each year, unless changed by the board of trustees. And in default of such selection, or in the event of the time or place fixed by the Association becoming impracticable, the board of trustees shall make the selection.

Sec. 2. Adjourned meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Association shall determine.

Sec. 3. Special meetings shall be called by the secretary, when requested in writing by the president, the board of trustees, or twentyfive members of the Association. Such requests shall specify the purpose of the meeting. At special meetings, no business shall be transacted except that stated in the call, unless by the consent of four-fifths of the members present and voting.

Sec. 4. At all meetings twenty-five members shall constitute quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VII.

Committees.

Section 1. The standing committees shall be: A committee on membership, a committee on grievances, a legislative committee, a committee on judiciary and judicial administration, a committee on uniform state laws, a committee on legal education and admission to the bar, a committee on federal legislation, a committee on publications, a committee on obituaries, and a nominating committee.

Sec. 2. A majority of those members of any committee who may be present at any meeting of the Association, unless otherwise provided, shall constitute a quorum of such committee for the purpose of such meeting.

Sec. 3. Such other committees may be appointed or elected from time to time as shall be deemed expedient; but except by a vote of the Association, no matters shall be referred to a special committee which is within the province of any of the standing committees.

ARTICLE VIII.
Dues.

Section 1. The admission fee of applicants who shall apply directly to the Association for membership shall in all cases be three dollars, to be paid at the time of making the application for admission,.. which said admission fee shall include all dues for the calendar year. Sec. 2. Dues shall be two dollars a year, which, in case of affiliated local associations shall be paid by such local associations according to their respective membership lists as filed with the secretary of the Association. Honorary members shall be exempt from the payment of admission fees or dues.

Sec. 3. Dues shall be payable January 1st of each year, and shall if not paid, be delinquent May 1st of such year. Any member whose dues are not paid by September 1st shall be dropped from the membership list, provided, however, a member who has been dropped may be reinstated upon vote of the board of trustees, and upon the payment of all delinquent dues.

ARTICLE IX.

Suspensions and Expulsions.

Section 1. Any member may be suspended or expelled for misconduct in his relation to the Association, or in his personal or professional relations, in such manner as may be prescribed by the by-laws, and all interest in the property of the Association held by personsresigning or otherwise ceasing to be members shall vest in the Association.

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Sec. 2. Conviction of any member for crime involving moral turpitude shall at once work a forfeiture of membership in the Asso

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ciation, which forfeiture shall continue until such conviction be set aside or reversed.

Sec. 3. If any member be disbarred or suspended from practice in the Supreme or Superior courts, such disbarment shall work a for feiture of his membership, until such disbarment be set aside or reversed. Reinstatement to practice shall not reinstate to membership in this Association, unless by a vote of the Association upon recommendation of the committee on membership.

ARTICLE X.
Ethics.

Section 1. The code of ethics adopted by the American Bar Association at Seattle, 1908, shall be the rules of ethics of this Association and all members of this Association shall be deemed to have subscribed thereto and be governed accordingly.

ARTICLE XI.

Amendments.

Section 1. Amendments may be made to this constitution only at an annual meeting, and by a vote of two-thirds of the members present; but no amendment shall be considered (except by unanimous consent of those present) unless a copy of the same shall be sent to the secretary and notice of same given by the secretary in the call for the annual meeting.

BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I.

Order of Business.

Section 1. The order of business at the annual meeting of the Association shall be as follows:

1. Opening address of the president.

2. Report of the secretary.

On Membership.

On Grievances.

Legislative Committee.

On Judiciary and Judicial Administration.

On Uniform State Laws.

On Legal Education and Admission to the Bar.

On Federal Legislation.

On Publications.

On Obituaries.

Nominating Committee.

This order of business may be changed by a vote of a majority of the members present, or by order of the board of trustees.

Sec. 2. The usual parliamentary rules and orders shall govern at all meetings of the Association, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE II.

Duties of Officers.

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Association, and shall deliver at the annual meeting an appropriate address, with particular reference to any statutory changes of public interest in the state, and any needed changes suggested by judicial decisions during the year.

The president shall, upon his election, appoint all committees, and shall announce them to the secretary, and the secretary shall promptly give notice to the persons appointed.

Sec. 2. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Association and all such other matters as may be directed to be placed on the files of the Association; he shall keep an accurate roll of the officers and members, and notify them of their election or appointment on committees; he shall issue notices of all meetings; furnish the treasurer with the names and addresses of persons elected members; conduct the correspondence of the Association; keep its seal; make a report at the annual meeting of his transactions and the condition of the Association during the preceding year; shall collect all moneys due the Association and turn the same over to the treasurer, and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by the Association, the president, or the board of trustees; his books and papers shall at all times be open to the inspection of the board of trustees, and he shall receive such compensation as shall be allowed by that board.

Sec. 3. The treasurer shall keep an accurate roll of the members of the Association; notify members of their election to membership; keep regular and accurate book accounts of and expend, under the direction of the Association, or the board of trustees, all moneys of the Association, and shall exhibit at the annual meeting, and when directed by the Association or the board of trustees, detailed statements of the moneys received and expended, the amount due to and by the Association, and an estimate of the resources and expenditures for the ensuing year; his books and accounts shall at all times be subject to examination and audit by the board of trustees, or by any special committee appointed for that purpose; he shall give bond in