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BYLAWS OF THE ELDON B. MAHON
INN OF COURT
ARTICLE I. General.
Section 1. Purpose.
The purposes of The Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court are set
forth in Article I of Charter Number 184 issued by the
American Inns of Court Foundation on the 11th day of
June, 1993, as the same may be amended.
Section 2. Principal Location.
The Eldon B. Mahon Inn of
Court shall be located in the city of Fort Worth, county
of Tarrant, state of Texas.
ARTICLE II. Organization.
Section I. The Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall consist of seven persons
and is composed of the four officers of the Inn, as
described below, and three at large members to be
elected by majority vote of the Active Masters of the
Bench, as hereinafter provided. The duties of the
Executive Committee, and its members, are as set forth
in the Charter, and as set forth herein.
Section 2. The Officers.
The officers of the Inn shall be a president, counselor,
secretary and treasurer, and such other officers as the
Active Masters of the Bench may later deem necessary.
The officers each serve a one-year term, or as otherwise
directed by the Active Members of the Bench, and may
succeed themselves in the same position for one
additional term only. The officers are selected by the
Active Masters of the Bench in accordance with the
Charter of the Inn. Associate, Pupil and Honorary
members are not eligible to serve as officers.
Section 3. Committees.
The Executive Committee may establish standing and ad
hoc committees from time to time from among the active
members of the Inn, and from time to time may change or
discontinue commit-tees. The chair and members of all
such committees shall be determined by the Executive
Commit-tee.
The following standing committees shall be established:
Membership Committee and Program Committee. The
composition and duties of each committee shall be as
follows:
Membership Committee-The Membership Committee shall
consist of five persons, one of whom shall be either the
President or Counselor. The Membership Committee shall
solicit and re-view applications and make
recommendations to the Executive Committee, for
membership in the Inn; shall maintain records of
attendance and oversee attendance in accordance with
Article IV Section 2 of these Bylaws; and, shall assign
members to Pupilage groups.
Program Committee-The Program Committee shall consist of
three persons and shall oversee and approve program
topics, and shall be responsible for submitting programs
for Continuing Legal Education credit.
Section 4. Pupilage Groups.
All active members except officers will be assigned to a
Pupilage Group by the Membership Committee and the
assignments shall be approved by the Executive
Committee. Officers may, in their discretion,
participate in Pupilage Groups. Each Pupilage Group
shall be chaired by an Active Master of the Bench
appointed by the Executive Committee and shall include
one active, local area judge among its members. The
Benchers and Pupilage Groups shall be reassigned every
year.
ARTICLE III. Membership.
There are six classifications of members in the Eldon B.
Mahon Inn of Court, consistent with the Bylaws of the
American Inns of Court Foundation, and as set forth
below:
Active Masters of the Bench-consisting of lawyers who
have demonstrated superior character ability and
competence as trial or appellate advocates, and federal,
state and local judges. Masters shall be persons with at
least fifteen years experience as lawyers, judges and
law professors;
Emeritus Masters of the Bench-consisting of lawyers who
have completed service as Active Masters and have
otherwise demonstrated long and distinguished service to
the Inn.
Barristers-consisting of lawyers, judges and law
professors with at least four to fifteen years of
experience;
Associates-consisting of lawyers with one to four years
of experience; Pupils-consisting of law students from
local area law schools; and
Honorary Members-consisting of lawyers selected for
honorary status based upon long and distinguished
service to the bench or bar.
Emeritus Masters, Barristers, Associates, Pupils and
Honorary Members shall not be voting members, except
when they may serve as officers or committee members and
as may otherwise be provided in the Charter. Active
Masters shall serve five year terms. Barristers shall
serve three year terms. Associates shall serve a term of
two years. Pupils shall serve a term of one year. All
term years shall run from July 1 through June 30, or as
otherwise directed by the Executive Committee. Emeritus
Masters and Honorary Members serve without term limits.
Members may be eligible for re-selection to the Inn so
long as a period of at least one fiscal year has elapsed
since completion of the next previous term. Members may
not change membership classification during the course
of a given year. ARTICLE IV. Meetings and Attendance.
Section 1. Meetings.
Meetings shall be held at least six times per year at
such times and places as the Executive Commit-tee may
determine. The Inn shall endeavor to have at least one
social event per year to which members may invite
guests.
Section 2. Attendance.
Each member, except Emeritus Masters and Honorary
Members, will be allowed only two absences from the
monthly meetings in a given fiscal year. A member with
more than two absences is deemed to have resigned. The
Membership Committee shall monitor attendance at
meetings and shall submit the names of those who have
more than two absences to the Executive Committee. The
non-participating member will be contacted by the
Membership Chair in order to determine if he/she wishes
to remain in this American Inn of Court. If so, the
member should petition the President for appointment to
the vacancy, showing good cause therefore. The President
will submit the petition to the Executive Committee for
determination.
Emeritus Masters and Honorary Members shall not have
attendance requirements.
ARTICLE V. Voting and
Elections.
Section 1. Active Masters of the Bench.
Each Active Master shall be entitled to one vote on all
matters submitted for decision by vote of the Active
Masters. A majority of voting Active Masters shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Every act done or decision made by a majority of the
Active Masters in attendance at a duly called meeting
shall be regarded as the act of the Inn.
Section 2. Executive Committee.
Each member of the Executive Committee shall be entitled
to one vote on all matters submitted to the Committee.
In the event of a tie, the President shall have the
deciding vote. A majority of the members of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. Every act done or decision made by a
majority of the members in attendance at the meeting
called for that purpose shall be regarded as the act of
the entire Executive Committee.
Section 3. Elections.
The election of the three At Large Executive Committee
members, the President, the Counselor, the Secretary and
the Treasurer for a given fiscal year will occur every
year during the months of July or August at a meeting of
the Active Masters of the Bench especially called for
that purpose. The slate of persons nominated for the
respective positions shall be determined on or before
June 30 by the Executive Committee members sewing at the
time.
Section 4. Vacancies
When a position as an officer or committee chair becomes
vacant, the Executive Committee has authority to
immediately fill the vacancy. The duration of time spent
completing a vacant position shall not be counted
against the new officer in regard to any maximum term of
service. ARTICLE VI. Fiscal Matters.
Section 1. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of The Mahon Inn of Court shall be the
same as the fiscal year of the American Inns of Court
Foundation which is from July I to June 30 of each year.
Section 2. Dues.
Dues shall be in an amount consistent with the Charter
and shall be levied by the Treasurer during the month of
September of each year. Failure to pay assessments and
dues prior to the third meeting of the Inn year and
after reasonable notice may be considered by the
Executive Committee as grounds to terminate membership
of the person in default.
Section 3. Expenses.
This American Inn of Court shall pay all expenses in
accordance with The Leadership Handbook, which includes
payment to help pay the cost for one or more officers to
attend the National Conference of the American Inns of
Court Foundation in a manner consistent with the
guidelines established in The Leadership Handbook.
ARTICLE VII. Adoption and Amendments.
Section 1. Adoption.
These Bylaws have been adopted by this Inn of court upon
approval by a majority of the Active Masters of the
Bench of this American Inn of Court and after being
submitted to, and approved, in writing by the Board of
Trustees of the American Inns of Court Foundation.
Section 2. Amendments.
Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a majority of
the Active Masters of the Bench of this American Inn of
Court and must be submitted to, and approved, in
writing, by the Board of Trustees of the American Inns
of Court Foundation.
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