I.O.P. 47.2: Membership in the Judicial Conference of the Circuit
Local Rules and Internal Operating Procedures of the Fourth Circuit — Title VII. General Provisions
There shall be four types of members of the conference: ex officio members, nominees, permanent members, and members emeritus.
(A) Ex officio members.
(1) The Attorney General of the United States, or designee.
(2) The Solicitor General of the United States, or designee.
(3) The presidents of the state bar associations of the states of the Circuit. When two bar associations in the same state are both recognized under this rule, the president of each shall be entitled to attend, and the maximum number of members of the conference from the bar, from any state, under this provision, shall be limited to two. As long as there is only one state bar association in Maryland, the Bar Association of Baltimore City may be treated as a state bar association under this provision
(4) One representative of the federal bar association elected to the Federal Bar Council from the Fourth Circuit, each conference year, on a rotational basis.
(5) All United States Attorneys in the Circuit.
(6) All Federal Public Defenders in the Circuit.
(7) All Chief Justices of the courts of last resort of the states comprising this Circuit.
(8) All Chief Justices of the courts of last resort of Federally-recognized Native American Nations within the Circuit.
(9) All Attorneys General of the states comprising this Circuit.
(10) The Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
(11) The Chief Judge of the United States Tax Court.
(12) One representative of each accredited law school within the Circuit.
(13) One representative of the Clerks of Court of the Circuit.
(B) Members designated by judges.
(1) Nominees.
Lawyers who are not permanent members of the conference as set forth under (B)(2) below are invited by the Chief Judge as guests of a scheduled conference upon nomination by an active or senior circuit or district judge. Any one attendance under the outreach scholarship program qualifies toward permanent conference membership.
(a) Each active or senior circuit judge or district judge may designate one nominee for invitation to the conference. For the first conference occurring after the 2018 conference, a judge may designate one additional nominee for invitation to the conference.
(b) Each new circuit or district judge attending his or her first two conferences as a judge may designate three nominees for invitation to the conference.
(c) Each Program Committee Chair may designate two nominees for invitation to the conference.
(2) Permanent members.
(a) By attending two conferences as a nominee under (B)(1) above, a lawyer shall become a permanent member of the conference, entitled to attend future conferences.
In order to retain such permanent member status, a permanent member must timely pay annual dues in the amount fixed for permanent membership.
(b) A former or retired circuit or district judge of the Circuit shall be a permanent member of the conference, entitled for life to attend all conferences.
(3) Members emeritus.
A permanent member for ten years or more shall become a member emeritus upon electing to assume member emeritus status and properly notifying the conference secretary of such decision. In order to retain member emeritus status, a member emeritus must timely pay all membership dues in the amount fixed for emeritus membership. A member emeritus will not be invited to attend future conferences, except as a nominee under (B)(1) above. A member emeritus may be reinstated as a permanent member by designation of the Chief Circuit Judge for good cause shown, or by again qualifying for permanent membership under (B)(2)(a) above.
(C) Effect of suspension or disbarment.
(1) Suspension for misconduct from the bar of any state or court shall result in dismissal from the conference, following receipt of such notice, at the sole discretion of the Chief Circuit Judge. Upon being reinstated to good standing with the bar, a former member may be readmitted to membership by again qualifying for permanent membership under (B)(2)(a) above.
(2) Disbarment from the bar of any state or court shall result in permanent dismissal from the conference, following receipt of such notice, at the sole discretion of the Chief Circuit Judge.