The Maryland State Bar Association Board of Governors
and officers met at the location, date and time indicated above. There were
29 members of the Board of Governors present including all of the officers.
Guests attending the meeting included Edward J. Gilliss, Chair of the Budget
and Finance Committee. Other guests included some of the new members of the
in-coming Board of Governors. In addition, Paul Carlin, Executive Director,
and key members of his staff were in attendance.
President Richard H. Sothoron, Jr. called the meeting to order
at approximately 2:10 p.m.
The Board approved the Minutes of the Board of Governors meeting
of April 17, 2001.
1. Richard H. Sothoron, Jr. gave the President’s Report.
a. He reported that the MSBA Oyster Roast at Billingsley
Manor was sold out and that everyone seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.
The setting was beautiful and the food was excellent.
b. He reported that the two Senators from Maryland had reacted
favorably to his letter commenting on the proposed appointment to fill a
judicial vacancy on the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The apparent
front-runner for the vacant seat is not a member of the Maryland Bar although
a Maryland Attorney or Jurist traditionally fills the seat. He further reported
that the MSBA Committee on Judicial Nominations would interview candidates
if asked.
c. He reported that Sandra F. Haines, Reporter for the Standing
Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Court of Appeals, had
reported by memo that the Rules changes relating to IOLTA (Rule 16-808 and
Rule 16-811) and Pro Bono activities (Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional
Conduct) will appear in the
Maryland Register on May 4, 2001 and on the Court’s
website at www.courts.State.Md.US. A
Hearing on these proposed changes would likely be held in September, 2001
d. He discussed a letter from Judge Steven I. Platt, Chair
of the Business/Technology Case Management Program Implementation Committee,
which reported that business and technology cases would be subject to different
management techniques and would be assigned to specific Judges in the various
Circuits who volunteered to handle business and technology cases. The Program
is expected to be operational by January, 2002.
e. He discussed the ABA Medal Award nominations reported
in a Memorandum from the ABA. After discussion, it was determined that the
time frame was too short to nominate anyone from Maryland.
f. He discussed the appointment of a Special Committee to
Study MICPEL’s Future. He reported that the Special Committee had as
its focus developing a closer working relationship among the three partners
to benefit MICPEL. He also noted that Brent Burry was doing an excellent
job as Executive Director under difficult circumstances and that the appointment
of the Committee was not indicative of a lack of confidence in Mr. Burry’s
leadership.
g. It was reported by Suzanne K. Farace, Ronald E. Richardson
and Robert B. Riddle of the Board of Governors that they had reviewed all
of the submissions for the Presidential Best Section Project Awards and believed
that the Section of Business Law Section Project concerning the creation
of a Business and Technology Court in Maryland was the Section Project this
year which best benefited the public. It was moved and passed that the Business
Law Section receive the Presidential Best Section Project Award for the project
best benefiting the public.
They further reported that the Young Lawyers Section submission
of the On-Line Job Search Project was the project that deserved the Presidential
Best Section Project Award for the project that best benefited its members.
It was moved and passed that the Young Lawyers Section receive the Presidential
Best Section Project Award for its On-Line Job Search Project. It was noted
that Michael D. Oliver had contributed a great deal of time in creating the
On-Line Job Search site.
h. It was reported that Gregory A. Rapisarda, Susan L. Bayly
and William D. Roessler, the Committee considering nominations for the Anselm
Solaro Judicial Civility Award, had reviewed a number of nominations and
had selected Judge Robert H. Mason of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s
County to receive the 2001 Anselm Solaro Judicial Civility Award. That nomination
was moved and passed.
i. It was reported that the Young Lawyers Section of the
MSBA had nominated Darren L. Kadish to be a Delegate to the ABA House of
Delegates. That nomination was moved and passed. It was reported that the
incoming President-Elect traditionally receives a nomination to be a Delegate
to the ABA House of Delegates. It was moved and passed that James P. Nolan,
as incoming President-Elect of the Association, receive that appointment
to the ABA House of Delegates. There was one remaining election to be a Delegate
to the ABA House of Delegates for which there were two nominations. After
a secret ballot, Tracey E. Skinner was elected.
j. It was reported that Edwin G. Fee, Jr. had been
selected to receive the Maryland Bar Foundation Edward Shea Award and that
Judge Peter J. Messitte had been selected to receive the Vernon Eney Award,
for 2001.
2. Paul Carlin gave the Executive Director’s Report.
a. He reported that the total MSBA membership count as of
the date of the meeting was 19,082, including 0 resignations, 2 dropped members,
0 deceased members, 2 new members, and 17 reinstatements. The request of
John B. Kenkel to be approved as an Honorary Member was moved and approved.
b. He advised that all of the appropriate brochures and
notices for the Annual Meeting had been mailed. He advised that the Sheraton
Fontainebleau was now the Clarion Fontainebleau and that the Annual Meeting
would be held on June 13 through June 16, 2001, and further, that many excellent
programs and activities have been planned.
He further advised that plans are substantially completed
for the 2002 Mid-Year Meeting in Las Vegas to be held at the Flamingo Hilton
Hotel, from February 17 through February 21, 2002.
c. He reported that he had executed an agreement with Lexis
relating to the purchase of books by Maryland lawyers from Lexis. He reported
that Maryland Lawyers who accessed the Lexis site via the MSBA homepage and
ordered books from Lexis would generate a 5% commission payable by Lexis
to the MSBA.
d. He reported that funding was in place for the Law Links
Summer Intern Program for Baltimore City and the counties that participate
in the program. It is anticipated that there will be approximately 60 students
participating in this program.
e. He discussed the 2001 MSBA Annual Report pointing out
that the Report contains a wealth of information about the funding and operations
of the MSBA. He complimented Janet Eveleth on the excellent brochure which
she designed.
f. He reported that there were 19 senior citizen centers
visited on Law Day as a result of the cooperation among the Bar Association’s
Public Awareness Committee, the Elder Law Committee and the Senior Lawyer
Committee. These visits were very successful and seemed to be very much appreciated
by the attendees at the senior citizen centers. Those senior citizens who
attended these meetings received MSBA tote bags and magnifying glasses, which
are very popular with the participants.
3. Jim Nolan gave the Secretary’s Report. He reported
that the Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting held on May 11, 2001 were
substantially covered in the Agenda for this Board Meeting.
4. Harry Johnson gave the Treasurer’s Report.
a. He reported the following for the MSBA as of April 30,2001:
total dues income of $2,217,492.11, representing 102.52% of the MSBA budgeted
dues for the year 2000/2001 had been collected; total income of $3,295,857.59;
total expenses of $2,573,243.04; and a surplus of $722,614.55.
b. A request was made by Joel S. Sinclair that the current
MSBA budget be amended to provide $630.00 to the Committee on Legal Education
budget for fiscal year 2001 to produce and distribute a handbook for developing,
promoting and presenting seminars which is to be distributed to the Sections
of the MSBA. After discussion, it was noted that the Budget and Finance Committee
approved the $630.00 amendment at its meeting on April 18, 2001. The amendment
was moved and approved.
Mr. Sinclair also reported that this was his last Board
of Governors meeting because he was moving to Phoenix, Arizona. The Board
wished him well in his future endeavors.
5. Pam White gave the President-Elect’s Report.
She reported that in May of 1989, the Gender Bias Report
concluded that gender bias existed in the Court system and actually affected
justice. In 2000, there was a follow-up survey and report, which will be
released to the MSBA and Chief Judge Bell in early July, 2001. The format
of the report tracks the earlier report and adds an expanded section to cover
racial, ethnic and cultural fairness within the Court system. Our Board of
Governors will vote to accept or reject the Report at a later meeting after
an opportunity to review the Report.
6. Reports of Standing Committees.
a. Edward J. Gilliss, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee,
presented the recommended budget for fiscal year
2001-2002 for the MSBA, which was previously distributed to the members of
the Board of Governors. He noted that it is a very tight budget and there
are no restricted funds proposed in this budget. The budget, as submitted,
was moved and approved. The Board noted that Mr. Gilliss and his committee
had performed an exemplary job in analyzing the budget submissions of each
of the Sections and Committees of the Association.
b. Alvin I. Frederick presented the Ethics 2000 Committee’s
Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Report which in large measure, dealt with the
use of computer technology for advertising a law practice and affiliations
with "legal information providers."
He reported that this topic is being dealt with by the ABA and that a report
by its Committee is due in August, 2002.
7. Reports of Sections.
The Board considered the Report of Legal Education and Admissions
to the Bar on Foreign Legal Consultants. After review of the Report, the
Board moved and approved changing that item from action requested to information
only.
8. New Business.
It was noted that the Disciplinary Rules Program at the
Annual Meeting would include a Mock Peer Review Panel and that attendance
by all attorneys, whether or not they expect to be involved in a disciplinary
rules matter, was quite advisable. The announcement of that particular program
will appear on the MSBA website.
9. Announcements.
a. The Mid-Year Meeting in Las Vegas from February 17, 2002
to February 21, 2002, was discussed and it was noted that there will be ample
continuing legal education and family oriented activities, including trips
to Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam.
b. It was reported that there would be a Statewide Legal
Services Conference on June 26, 2001. A Fundraising Dinner will follow the
meeting.
c. It was announced that the MSBA Annual Crab Feast will
be held on July 28, 2001 at Herrington’s on the Bay, Rose Haven, Anne
Arundel County. Maryland. It was advised that the Crab Feast would clearly
be a sellout.
d. It was announced that the Pro Bono Resource Center Access
to Justice Tribute will be held on June 26, 2001 at The Center Club, Baltimore,
Maryland, where the Honorable Chief Judge Robert Bell will be honored for
his commitment to public access to justice.
There being no further business to come before the Board of Governors, the
meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
James P. Nolan
Secretary
Cornelius D. Helfrich
Assistant Secretary
Board
Of Governors : Minutes :
May 11, 2001
