Bylaws
ARTICLE I — Name
The name of this organization shall be “APPELLATE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION.”
ARTICLE II — Object
The object of this Association is to foster and encourage a spirit of loyalty and fraternity consistent with the purposes hereinafter stated among appellate lawyers; to promote closer relationships between these lawyers to the end that they may become mutually helpful to one another and to further their common interests; to foster and encourage the highest professional and ethical standards in the prosecution of appeals.
ARTICLE III — Membership
Section 1. The membership of the Association shall be divided into two classes; (a) active members and (b) honorary members.
Section 2. Qualifications for Active Membership.
(a) Only persons with the following qualifications shall be eligible for active membership in the Association.
(i) Lawyers who have been licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction for at least one year and who have actively participated in, and had substantial responsibility for, the prosecution, defense, or disposition of at least three appeals, or
(ii) Lawyers who are licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction and have actively participated in, and have substantial responsibility for, the prosecution, defense, or disposition of at least five appeals.
(b) Nomination for membership shall be made in writing to the Board of Directors under such regulations as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The names of nominees shall be placed for consideration and possible election on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors. When elected by the Board of Directors, the names shall be placed on the membership list and reported to the Association at its next regular meeting. No person shall be elected a member of the Association except by two-thirds vote of the officers and directors (not less than five) present at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
(c) The Board of Directors shall satisfy itself as to the qualifications of the candidates for membership, including matters pertaining to their competency and integrity.
Section 3. Qualifications for Honorary Membership. Any lawyer who has been actively engaged in the prosecution of appeals and whose standing in the profession is pre-eminent, or who has distinguished himself or herself in the public service, may be elected an honorary member of the Association. All judges of the Illinois Supreme Court, the Illinois Appellate Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit are, by virtue of their judicial office or appointment, honorary members of the Association. Any person, whether or not a lawyer, whose occupation involves significant participation in the appellate process in state or federal courts may be elected an honorary member of the Association.
Section 4. Elected honorary members shall be elected to honorary membership by vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Only active members shall be eligible to vote or hold office in the Association. Honorary members may attend and participate in all regular and special meetings of the Association, but shall be ineligible to vote or hold office.
ARTICLE IV — Management
Section 1. The affairs of the Association shall be managed, conducted, and controlled by its officers, who will consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, together with eight Directors, four of whom shall be elected annually to hold office for a period of two years, and who, together with the four other directors and the officers, shall constitute the Board of Directors of the Association. At least one director shall be an active member who resides and practices in either the Second or Third Judicial District of the State of Illinois. At least one Director shall be an active member who resides and practices in either the Fourth or Fifth Judicial District of the State of Illinois. The retiring President shall serve as an ex-officio director for one year following the expiration of his or her term of office and shall have the right to vote.
Section 2. To be eligible to serve as a director of the Association, a person must be an active member in the Association for at least one year. To be eligible to serve as an officer of the Association, a person must be an active member in the Association for at least three years who:
(a) Has spent a substantial portion of his or her professional activities in the handling of appeals; and
(b) Has actively participated in, and has substantial responsibility for, the prosecution, defense, or disposition of at least fifteen appeals.
Section 3. No director shall be eligible for re-election until one year after the expiration of his or her two-year term.
Section 4. Any vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled by the Board for the remaining term of the vacancy.
Section 5. The annual election shall be held at the June meeting of each year.
Section 6. The Board of Directors shall meet at any time at the call of the President, or by a petition signed by any three members of the Board.
Section 7. The President and any four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of the President, seven members of the Board shall be necessary for a quorum.
ARTICLE V — Official Year
The official year of the Association which shall govern the terms of the officers and directors and the fiscal affairs of the Association shall begin on July 1 of each year, except that the term of the office of President shall run from the date of installation until the date on which the next President is installed.
ARTICLE VI — Duties of the Officers
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association and to perform such other duties as usually belong to the office of the President. The President shall be ex-officio a member of all committees.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to preside in the absence of the President and to perform all the duties appropriate to the office of the Vice-President.
Section 3. The Secretary or Executive Secretary shall keep minutes of the Association. The Executive Secretary shall have the custody of all books and papers of the Association.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall collect all dues of the members and all monies due or coming to the Association and shall disburse the funds of the Association under the direction of the President.
ARTICLE VII — Nominations and Elections
Section 1. At the June meeting of the Association in every odd-numbered year, there shall be elected a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and four members of the Board of Directors, at least one from the Second or Third Judicial District. At the June meeting of the Association in every even-numbered year, there shall be elected a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and four members of the Board of Directors, and at least one from the Fourth or Fifth Judicial District.
Section 2. The President shall, prior to March 1 of each year, appoint a Nominating Committee of five members, to nominate one candidate for each office of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, for each of the three or five expiring terms on the Board of Directors of the Association and for any vacancies on the Board. Two members of the nominating Committee shall be selected from among the members of the Association at large, and the remaining three shall be selected from among the members of the Board of Directors. The immediate past President shall serve as the Chair of the Nominating Committee. The Secretary shall publish the names of the Nominating Committee in the Association's regular notice of its March meeting or provide separate notice to all mem bers of the names of the Nominating Committee not later than March 15 of each year.
Section 3. Nominations for the office of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, the expiring terms of the directors, and for any vacancies on the Board may be submitted by any member thereof, provided that the nomination is in writing, signed by the nominator, and expressly warrants that the candidate will serve if elected. Nominations will open with receipt of the notice appointing the Nominating Committee and close on April 1, regardless of whether this date falls on a Sunday or a holiday. The Nominating Committee shall file its written report of its nominations on or before April 15. Any active member is eligible to run for the offices of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, or member of the Board of Directors by filing with the Nominating Committee a petition signed by the member designating the office sought and also signed by five other active members. Such petitions must be received on or before May 15 and the Nominating Committee shall file said petitions with the Secretary on or before May 20. The Secretary shall publish the candidates' names in the formal notice of the June meeting.
Section 4. In the event of a contest for any elective office, a secret ballot shall be taken. Ballots shall be mailed out on or before June 1 and must be received on or before June 10 or five days before the June meeting if the June meeting is held before June 14. A majority of the vote cast shall be decisive. In the event no elective office is contested, the slate shall be formally proposed at the June meeting and elected by a majority of those members present at the June meeting.
Section 5. No proxy voting shall be allowed. Section 6. The immediate past Vice-President shall become President. The President is to be installed at the June meeting of the Association. In the event the past Vice-President cannot become President, the Board of Directors shall upgrade each of the newly-elected officers in the following order: Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer. The Board of Directors shall call a special election to fill any vacancies created by the upgrading of newly elected officers. The Board may appoint one or more members of the Association to perform the functions of any vacant offices pending the special election. The term of each officer, except members of the Board of Directors, whether elected or selected, shall be for one year and until his or her successor is qualified.
ARTICLE VIII — Dues and Funds
Section 1.
(a) All members of the Association are required to pay initiation fees, dues, and charges as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time.
(b) A dues statement shall be mailed by the President or Treasurer on or before the thirty-first day of August of each year to every member at his or her last known office address. All dues are payable on the thirtieth day of September of each year.
(c) The annual dues of the active members of the Association shall be as determined by the Board of Directors, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a meeting of said Board.
(d) The treasurer shall bill each newly elected member an initiation fee of Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00).
Section 2. The receipts from dues and miscellaneous sources shall be known as the current fund and shall be used for the current expenses of the Association.
Section 3. The Treasurer shall report in writing annually to the Association, the financial condition of the Association.
ARTICLE IX — Inactive Membership
Section 1. Failure of any member to pay his or her initiation fee within six months from date of his or her election to membership shall automatically terminate his or her provisional membership and his or her name shall not be placed on the membership roll.
Section 2. Any member who fails to pay his or her dues and charges as provided elsewhere herein, within six months from the due date, automatically will become an inactive member.
Section 3. The Secretary shall notify a member of a prospective inactive status of his or her membership for non-payment of dues by written notice mailed to him or her at his or her last known office address, fifteen or more days prior to the date of the prospective inactive status.
Section 4. The Board of Directors, at its discretion and upon terms, may reinstate an inactive member to active membership. The Treasurer shall bill each inactive member the sum of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) when reinstated to active membership.
Section 5. An inactive member may not hold office or any position in the Association, serve as a member of any committee or attend any meeting of the Association, receive any notices or other communications, or have any vote, nor may he or she exercise any of the privileges of membership, nor shall his or her name be included in any roster of members published while he or she is inactive.
ARTICLE X — Quorum and Meetings
Section 1. A quorum shall consist of fifteen members.
Section 2. Meetings of the Association shall be held once each month from September through June, except for December or May which may be scheduled at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI — Censure, Expulsion and Discipline of Members
Section 1. The right to censure, expel, call for the resignation of, or otherwise discipline any member of the Association shall be vested in the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Any member may be censured, expelled, or otherwise disciplined for misconduct in his or her relations to the Association, or for conduct discreditable to the Association or profession, or injurious or derogatory to the good order, dignity, peace, reputation, or interest of the Association, or inconsistent with its purposes.
ARTICLE XII — By-Laws
These By-Laws may be amended from time to time by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting of the Association, provided that the proposed change or amendment to the said By-Laws shall have been mailed to all active members at least thirty days prior to the meeting upon which the vote of the change or amendment is to be taken.
ARTICLE XIII — Statement of Purpose
- To be an organization of lawyers concentrating in practice before the courts of review.
- To review systematically all pertinent legislation and rules of court affecting jurisdiction and procedure in the appeal of cases with the aim of achieving greater clarity, fairness, and comprehensiveness.
- To facilitate closer and more effective liaison between and among lawyers concentrating in the appeal of cases, the appellate bench, and the legislature.
- To improve the standards of quality and competence in the preparation of cases on appeal.
- To exchange ideas and techniques, to resolve common problems, and to discuss matters of mutual interest to those concentrating in this field.
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Appellate Lawyers Association
1901 N. Roselle Road, #920
Schaumburg, IL 60195
P: (847) 885-2410
F: (847) 885-8393