6 Cir. R. 205: Judicial Conference of the Sixth Circuit

(a) Annual Conference. Unless the court determines otherwise, it will hold an annual conference of the court's circuit, district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges at a time and place the chief judge designates.

(1) Open Conferences. Open conferences are held in even-numbered years.

(2) Judges-Only Conferences. Judges-only conferences are held in odd-numbered years.

(b) Purpose. The purpose of the conference is to consider the state of the courts and to consider ways to improve the administration of justice in the circuit.

(c) Attendees. The circuit, district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges of the circuit may attend all conferences. Members of the bar who meet the following qualifications may attend open conferences:

(1) Attorneys admitted to practice in one or more federal courts in this circuit; and

(2) Delegates appointed under subrule (d).

(d) Delegates.

(1) Eligibility. An attorney who has demonstrated a willingness to work to improve the judicial system is eligible to serve as a delegate. The attorney must have practiced actively for at least five years in one or more federal courts of the circuit, in a manner that reflects integrity, honesty, capability, and civility. The appointing judge should know the attorney.

(2) Selection. The judges in the circuit appoint delegates to the open conferences. Appointment as a delegate for one conference does not imply appointment to succeeding conferences. In appointing delegates, judges should consider the composition of their court's bar with respect to areas of practice, race, sex, national origin, and level of experience. Delegates consist of:

(A) two or more lawyers appointed by the chief judge of the circuit;

(B) two lawyers appointed by each other circuit judge; and

(C) one lawyer appointed by each district judge.

(e) Life Members.

(1) Membership.

Membership by Attendance. An attorney who has attended three conferences in one or more of the capacities below is a life member of the conference. For purposes of determining eligibility, an attorney may aggregate years of attendance as:

(A) A delegate;

(B) The president or president-elect of the state bar association of a state in the circuit;

(C) The vice presidents for the Sixth Circuit of the Federal Bar Association or a member of the Executive Committee of the Federal Bar Association who resides in the circuit;

(D) The dean or designated member of the faculty of an accredited law school in the circuit;

(E) A member of the Advisory Committee on Rules of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit;

(F) The United States Attorney for a judicial district in the Sixth Circuit;

(G) The Federal Public Defender or Executive Director of the Community Defender Organization for the judicial districts in the circuit that have established defender organizations; and

(H) The CJA attorney representative for each district in the circuit.

(2) Retired or Former Judges.

(A) A circuit or district judge who has retired from judicial office under honorable circumstances under 28 U.S.C. § 371(a) or who has resigned from judicial office under honorable circumstances after having served at least three years is a life member;

(B) A bankruptcy or magistrate judge who has retired from judicial office under honorable circumstances under 28 U.S.C. § 377(a) or who has resigned from judicial office under honorable circumstances after having served for a least ten years, is a life member if the majority of the district judges of the bankruptcy or magistrate judge's district recommend membership.

(3) Petitioning for Membership. An attorney who has attended three conferences since 2000 may petition the chief judge to become a life member. The chief judge will grant the petition if the attendee satisfies the requirements in subrule (e)(1).

The chief judge's decision is final unless a majority of active circuit judges determines that the chief judge clearly erred. The petition must include:

(A) a statement that the attorney meets the eligibility requirements of a delegate under subrule (d)(1);

(B) evidence that the attorney attended at least three open conferences after actively practicing in one or more federal courts of this circuit for five years; and

(C) the favorable recommendation of a circuit or district judge of this circuit.

(4) Eligibility to Attend Conferences; Responsibility. A life member may attend all open conferences. The life members, acting through the Life Member Committee, organize life member programs and collegial activities of open conferences.

(5) Maintaining Life Member Status. To maintain active life member status, a life member must attend three open conferences each decade and pay annual dues. If these requirements are not met, the life member will be assigned to inactive status, subject to qualification as a senior life member. Inactive life members will not receive a letter of invitation or registration information for open conferences, nor are they required to pay dues.

(A) Reinstating Active Life Member Status. An inactive life member may return to active status by showing reasonable cause. The chief judge decides the request after considering the Life Member Committee's recommendation.

(B) Senior Life Members Status. At age 70, a life member may elect senior status. A senior life member will continue to receive a letter of invitation and conference registration materials but is not required to attend. A senior life member may - but is not required to - pay annual dues.

(6) Dues. Active life members must pay $100 annually. The Life Member

Committee may change this amount. Dues will be turned over to the circuit executive for deposit and expenditure as directed by the chair of the Life Member Committee.

(f) Committees. The chief judge may appoint the following committees to help plan and carry out conferences:

(1) Committee on Judicial Conference Planning. The Committee on Judicial Conference Planning consists of a representative number of circuit, district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges of this circuit and members of the bar. The committee plans and organizes the annual conferences. The chief judge appoints the chair and members of the Committee on Judicial Conference Planning. The Chair may appoint subcommittees to arrange particular aspects of an annual conference.

(2) Life Member Committee. The Life Member Committee consists of three life members from each of the four states in the circuit, with at least one member from each district. Members serve three-year terms. The chief judge may reappoint a committee member for one additional term. Alternatively, the chief judge may fix the length of terms so that approximately one-third of the terms expire each year.

The chief judge appoints the chair of the Life Member Committee. The Life Member Committee organizes and oversees the life members' activities, including - in consultation with the chief judge and the chair of the Standing Committee on Judicial Conference Planning - the life members' participation in open conferences and dues collection.

(3) Senior Counselors. The members of the Life Member Committee and the life members serving on the Standing Committee on Judicial Conference Planning act as senior counselors to the circuit. Senior counselors provide advice, at the court's request, on issues, policies, and other matters of significant concern.