Local Rule L.R. 83-3.1.1: The Standing Committee on Discipline

L.R. 83-3.1.1 The Standing Committee on Discipline. At all times the Court will maintain a Standing Committee on Discipline (hereinafter "Committee"). The Committee shall consist of 13 attorneys who are members of the Bar of the Court. However, in the event of any vacancy or vacancies, the Committee may continue to perform any of the functions herein authorized so long as there are nine members in office.

Committee members shall be appointed by the Chief Judge with the concurrence of the Executive Committee. The Chief Judge shall designate one member to serve as the chair. A Committee member shall serve for a term of one to three years but may continue in office, upon order of the Chief Judge, beyond said three-year term until the completion of any disciplinary proceeding (which includes the initial investigation to presentation of disciplinary recommendations to the Court) in which the member is participating. Each committee member's term shall commence on January 1 of the year specified in the appointment, and appointments shall be staggered so that each year the terms of four members, not including the Chair, shall end. Should any Committee member not complete a three-year term, that member's replacement shall complete the length of term remaining. The Chair of the Committee shall serve a term of three years as Chair, regardless of previous time served as a Committee member.

The Chair of the Committee shall organize the Committee into four sections of three members each. Each section shall consist of one member who has one year remaining on his term, one member who has two years remaining on his term, and one member who has three years remaining on his term. The Chair of the Committee may assign any matter before the Committee to one of the sections for initial investigation and further proceedings described in these rules. Except for the requirement of seven affirmative votes for the imposition of discipline as specified in Rule 83-3.1.5, the Committee may perform or decide any matter arising under these rules by a majority vote. For any Committee meeting, a quorum of seven is required.

The Clerk of the Court shall be advised of, and keep a current list of, all matters referred to the Committee and each section, to assist the Court, the Committee, and the affected attorney or complaining person, in recording the status of each matter.