Appeal was taken from this order by a notice filed with the Committee on August 15, 2000. The procedure to be followed in this matter is set out in the Procedures Regulating Professional Conduct. Although this court has characterized the process undertaken by the Committee as in the nature of administrative proceedings, the Committee is an administrative agency of the court and the rules for such proceedings are promulgated by this court. Walker v. Sup. In this case, we are required to interpret our Procedures Regulating Professional Conduct.
Courts construe their own rules using the same means as are used to construe statutes.
Gannett River Pub. The fundamental principle used in considering the meaning of a statute is to construe it just as it reads, giving the words their ordinary and usually accepted meaning. Interim suspension may be imposed by the Committee immediately upon conviction of a felony, notwithstanding pending postconviction action by the attorney. Consistent with this provision, this court has stated that under the Procedures, conviction of a felony constitutes grounds for automatic suspension pending an automatic referral for disbarment. There is a right to appeal for some actions taken by the Committee.