Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-24
PASSED. TO BE ENACTED.
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION.
Important Meeting of the
Legal Fraternity.

terni,y of this State, pursuant 10 call
convened at o'clock Yesterday in the parlor'
of Hon. L. A. Emery at the Hotel North.
The meeting was called to order by Gen.
James ID. FesSenden of Portland. who called
Hon. l.. H. Hutchinson of Lewiston to the
chair.
Geo. F. Holmes, Esq, of Portland was
elected Secretary.
Remarks were made by Mr.. Libby of
Portland explanatory Of the object of the
meeting.
Mr.. Fessenden of Portland presented a
draft of IA constitution, which had been drawn
by Committee of the Cumberland Bar As
ISOLATION.
Also presented drafts of two bills of in
corporation. for action of the meeting.
On motion of Hon. j. ii. Drummond of
Portland, the counties were called by the
Secretary, delegates present responding as
follows: Androscoegin. >: Aroostook. !;
Cumberland. 6; Franklin, l :; York. |: Han
cock, l kennebec, 3 i; Knox, | 4; Lincoln, |
Oxford. ,: Penobscot, =.
Mr.. Emery, Mr.. Fessenden and others ad-
dressed the meeting briefly, urging the for
nation of State Bar Association, for the
promotion of good feeling among the men,
bers of the Bar. and the regulation Of admis-
sions to practice.
On motion of Mr.. Libby of Portland, it
was declared expedient to organize a State
Bar Association.
On motion of Mr.. Drummond the
draft of constitution presented by Gen.
Fessenden was read and considered seriotim
and finally adopted as follows, receiving the
signature of all members of the Bar present
CONSTITUTION OF THE MAINE STATE BAR Asso-
CITATION.
This Association shall be- called the Maine State
Bar Association.
prudence, promote the administration of justice, up
hold the honor of the profession. and encourage n
thorough and liberal legal education.
The members of the bar in this State attending this
meeting, are hereby declared to be members of the
association upon signing the constitution. Members
ship and shall be elected at any legal meeting upon
the nomination of the Committee on Membership.
The officers of this association shall be President
three Vice Presidents, an Executive Committee,
Committee on Law Reform, Committee on Legal
Education and Admission to the Bar, Committee
on Membership. Committee on Legal History: a
Secretary and Treasurer. All these officers shall be
elected by ballot for this year, and at each annual
meeting hereafter.
The President, or in his absence one of the Vice
Presidents shall preside all meetings of the
citation. The President shall be EEK otfcio'
member of the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall consist of four
members beside the President. They shall have
charge of the affairs ofthe association make arrange.
ments for meetings, order the disbursement of the
funds of the ISOLATION. audit its accounts, and have
such other powers may be conferred upon them by
the bylaws or by vote at any meeting of the asso.
citation.
The Committee on aw Reform shall consist of
five members. 1t shall be the duty of this committee
to consider and report to the association, such
amendments of the law as in their opinion should
be adopted; also to scruinize proposed changes of
the law, and when necessary report upon the same;
also to observe the practical working of the judicial
system of the State, and recommend by written
printed report from time to time any changes there
| in which observation or experience may suggest.
The Committee on Legal Education shall consist
of one member from each county represented in the
| association. Its duty shall be to prepare and report
a system Oflegal education and of examination for
admission to the practice of the profession in this
State and report from time TO time such changes in
| the system of examination and admission may be
deemed advisable.
The Committee on Membership shall consist of
one member from each county represented in the
association. All applications for membership shall
be made to the member from the county where the
applicant resides if any, otherwise any member of
| the committee. Applicants shall be nominated for
membership by the concurrence of three members of
| this committee.
The Committee on Legal History shall consist of
so many members as the association shall from year
to appoint Its duty shall be provide for the
preservation in the archives of the society, Of the
| record of such facts relating to the history of the
| profession As may be of interest, and of suitable
written or printed memorials Of the lives and char
| acters of distinguished members of the profession
Other Standing Committees may be provided for
| by the bylaws of the association.
The Secretary shall keep the records of the $50
caton have charge of its archives, and discharge such
other duties as the association may require. The
Treasurer shall collect and receive the dues the
citation. keep and by order of the Executive Commit
tee disburse its funds, and discharge such other du
ties as NAV pertain to his office. Any person NAV
nil both offices, If elected thereto vacancy occurr
ing in either of these offices, NAV be filled bv ap-
pontment of the Executive Committee.
At each annual meeting the association shall fix
| the time and place for holding the next annual
meeting. Special meetings NAV be called bv the
President on application in writing of five members
each member. by the Secretary stating the object of
| the meeting. Fifteen members shall constitute a
quorum at any meeting.
The annual dues shall be dollar per year for
each member.
Any member may be expelled for misconduct BRO.
fessional or otherwise, by two-thirds vote of the
of the charge, and all the interest or any member in
the property of the association upon the termination
of his membership by expulsion, resignation or
otherwise, shall thereupon vest absolutely in the
association.
This constitution shall 20 into effect Immediately
| II can be amended only by a twothrds vote of the
members present at an annual meeting of the asso
| citation.
Mr.. Libby of Portland presented a draft of
bill providing for the regulation of admis-
sions to the bar, as follows:
An act TO regulate admission to the Bar in this State
Sec J. No person who has not been IA member of
the bar Of another state in good standing and in
active practice for ut least three years shall he adj
miited TO practice law unless he shall have studied
ioT AZ years IN the once OF
at-law, or part OF the time in such office and the re-
| mainder in some law school, and shall also have
passed satisfactory examination in his le gal studies
Sec. :. All examinations shall be public and in
the presence of some Justice of the Supreme Judi
cal Court during term time The time for holding
same IN each county, not exceeding twice in each
year, shall be fixed by the Chief Justice The ex
animation shall be partly oral and partly written and
shall be conducted by an examining committee OF the
par In each county to be appointed BY the Chief Jus
tce. No candidate shall he admitted whose exami
nafIon or character is not satisfactory to the presd
ing justice, unless notice of the intended apnlcs
ton Is given BY the clerk of the court to which an
pication IL TO be made In new spaper for ,hirv
DAYS at least before such admission An candid,,.s
must present to the Examining Committee yr.ten
recommendation from the members of the bsr Win
whom they have studied and must pay all fees no,y
prescribed by law. nv"
Sec B. Any person not having been adrn;tt.d 20
practice law In this State whose name shall b.yo
oeen struck from the roll of attorneys who shall nd
vertse a. or represent himself TO be- an attorney
nne not exceeding five hundred dollars or nv ;,.o
prisonmenf in the county Jail not more than three
months; and no person whose name shall bava
been struck from the roll of ATTORNEYS for mscond.
snail be allowed TO plead manage canses in CO..
uheer power Of attorney for any other party.
Which, on motion of Mr. Strout was
unanimously adopted, and Byron ID. Verrill
Esq, of Portland, was instructed to present
the same to the Legislature and urge its mas
sage by every legitimate means.
Mr.. Libby of Portland presented a draft
OF an act of incorporation, which was adopt-
ed, as follows, viz: