Section 1. Name

Section 1. Objectives and Goals

ARTICLE  III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership

Section 2. Selection of Particular Members

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be THE TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE, hereinafter designated as "the Committee".

Uphold and defend the principles of the Constitutions of the Untied States and the State of Florida; to promote the administration of justice for the public good; to uphold the honor and dignity of the profession of law and the judiciary; to encourage collegiality, mutual support and cooperation among members of the bar and bench; to diligently work to promote public safety and welfare while protecting individual liberties; to encourage the public awareness and understanding of the adversary system and to uphold and improve the adversary system, assuring that the courts shall be kept open and accessible to every person and that the right to trial by jury shall be secure to all and remain inviolate; to facilitate communication between the bench and the bar; to create and implement policy affecting the practice of law in the Tenth Judicial Circuit, and; to undertake such other business of joint concern.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The regular membership of the Committee shall consist of the following: one (1) County Court Judge, one (1) Circuit Civil Division Judge, one (I) Circuit Criminal Division Judge, one (1) Circuit Family Law Judge, one (1) Attorney from the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, one (1) Attorney from the Lakeland Bar Association, one (1) Attorney from the Lake Alfred, Auburndale, Winter Haven Bar Association, one (I) Attorney for the Virgil Hawkins Bar Association, one (1) Attorney from the Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, one (1) Attorney from the Hardee County Bar Association, one (1) Attorney from the Highlands County Bar Association, one (1) Attorney from the Polk County Women Lawyers Association, one (1) Attorney from the Tenth Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office, one (1) Attorney from the Tenth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, the Attorney representing the Tenth Judicial Circuit in the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar Association, the Tenth Judicial Circuit Representative to the Florida Bar Board of Governors, and Chief Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Any other individual, attorney organization, association, or entity within the Tenth Judicial Circuit may obtain representative membership on the Committee upon affirmative majority vote of the membership.

Section 2. Selection of Particular Members.

Particular members of the Committee, as set forth in the preceding paragraph, shall be selected by the organization, association, or entity which they represent by any manner which said organization, association or entity deems appropriate.

Section 3. Term of Membership. There shall be no definite term for regular membership. Terms of regular membership for individual Committee members shall be determined by the respective organization, association or entity which they represent.

Section 4. Privileges. Upon being designated as a Committee member by the respective organitation, association, or entity which said individual represents and said membership being duly recorded in the official minutes of the Committee, such member shall be entitled to all privileges of membership in the Committee, including:

(a) If an attorney member (not a member of the judiciary) , the right to hold any office in the Committee.

(b) If a member of the judiciary, the right to hold any office in the Committee except the office of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

(c) The right to one vote at any regular or special meeting of the membership.

Section 5. Termination of Membership. Membership may be terminated in the following manner:

(a) Resignation. Any member may resign by submitting a written resignation to the Chairman or by submitting an oral resignation which is duly recorded in the official minutes of the Committee. Such resignation shall become effective on the date submitted.

(b) Disbarment. A member who is disbarred from the practice of law in Florida shall automatically be removed from membership.

(c) Suspension from Practice. A member suspended from the practice of law in the State of Florida shall be suspended from membership for as long as said period of suspension of practice continues and shall be returned to membership subject to the approval of the Committee upon termination of said suspension.

(d) Expulsion, Suspension, or Censure. A member may be expelled, suspended, or censured by a two-thirds vote of the entire Committee for unethical conduct or for serious misconduct which brings discredit to the Committee, the profession of law, or the judiciary.

(e) Absenteeism. A member who is absent from two consecutive regularly scheduled meetings shall automatically be dropped from membership on the Committee. Additionally, any member who at any time during the calendar year has not attended one-half of the regular and special meetings of the Committee shall automatically cease to be a member. A member may be reinstated by submitting a written appeal within thirty (30) days after notification of removal to the Committee showing good cause for the absences. The decision to reinstate shall be made at the discretion of the Committee. A member unable to attend any scheduled meeting may designate an alternate to attend in his place to represent the organization, association, or entity on the regular member's behalf. Said alternate member shall have full privilege of membership and his presence shall satisfy the attendance requirement of the regular member for which he is substituting.

Section 1. Election of Officers. A Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary for the Committee shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership present at a meeting.

Section 2. Qualifications of Officers. The offices of Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be held by attorney members of the Committee and shall not be members of the judiciary. Additionally, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall have been regular members of the Committee for a period of six months preceding the date of their taking office. The office of Secretary of the Committee may be filled by any Committee member in good standing.

Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies of any office may be filled for the balance of any unexpired term by a majority vote of the membership in attendance at any regular or special meeting.

Section 5. Duties of officers.

(a) Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the membership and shall determine the membership of all sub-committees, other than the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V

SUB-COMMITTEES

Section 1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chief Judge for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, the Chairman, and three Committee members elected by the Committee (one of which shall be a judiciary member and two shall be attorney members) prior to January 1st of each even numbered year. The Executive Committee is empowered to act for and on behalf of the membership in emergency situations when the membership is not in meeting. The Executive Committee shall be accountable to the membership for its actions. Whenever possible, the Executive Committee shall obtain ratification from the membership for its actions at the regularly scheduled Committee meeting.

Section 2. Appointment. The Chairman may appoint additional standing and ad hoc sub-committees to address needs as they arise. Said sub-committees shall automatically expire at the end of each odd numbered calendar year, at which time they may be re-established at the discretion of the newly elected Chairman.

Section 3. Limitation of Authority. No action by any member, sub-committee or officer shall be binding upon or constitute an expression of the policy of the Committee until it shall have been approved or ratified by the Committee.

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS OF COMMITTEE

Section 1. Time and Place of Regular Meetings. Unless otherwise appropriately noticed, regular Committee
Meetings shall be held at 4:30 P.M. on the second Wednesday of each odd numbered month in the Judge's Meeting Room, 9th Floor, (East Tower) Courthouse, Bartow, Florida.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman, the Chief Judge, or a majority of the membership. Whenever reasonably practicable, written notice of any special meeting shall be given to each Committee member and mailed to his last recorded address. The notice shall state the place, date, and hour the meeting is to be held and the purpose for which it is called. In instances when written notice cannot be provided, telephonic contact shall be established with as many members as is possible to communicate the information previously set forth in this section. Additionally, whenever possible and the practicalities of the situation permit, special meetings shall be held at the same location of regular meetings as specifically set forth in Section 1, above.

Section 3. Quorum. At all meetings, whether members are present in person, or by alternate, a majority of the membership of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum shall fail to attend in person or by alternate at the time and place fixed as above provided, a majority of the members present, may adjourn from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until the requisite number of members to constitute a quorum shall be present. A quorum shall be present at any meeting of the Committee for official business to be conducted. An affirmative vote of a majority of the Committee members present at a given meeting shall be necessary to adopt a measure as an act of the Committee.

Section 4. Alternate Attendance. For any particular meeting, a Committee member may designate an alternate to attend the meeting in his place if the regular member is unable to attend. The alternate member must be a member in good standing of the organization, association or entity which the regular member represents. The alternate member shall have all privileges of membership as that of the regular member for which he is substituting.

Section 5. Agenda Items. Upon request of any Committee member, the Chairman shall place on the meeting agenda or bring up for discussion by the membership any item of business.

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS