NOTICE TO STATE BAR MEMBERS

The members of The West Virginia State Bar are hereby notified of the plan which has been approved by the Board of Governors regarding the implementation of the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Keller v. State Bar of California.

After the opinion of the Supreme Court was rendered in 1990, a Keller Committee was appointed to put together the necessary procedures and guidelines so that the Bar would be in compliance with this decision. The Committee consisted of Bar Second Vice President G. Nicholas Casey as Chairperson and Karen Hamrick, Grant Crandall, Charles R. S. Garten and Glenn Robinson as Committee members. The Committee reviewed all aspects of this matter and presented a plan of action to the Board of Governors in January, 1991, which was approved.

The time schedule which will be followed each year on membership dues matters in accordance with the Keller decision is as follows:

        June Notice to Membership of Amount of Keller deduction

        June 15 Dues Statements are sent to the Membership

        July 15 Challenges to Keller deduction must be received by this date.

        July Board of Governors reviews challenges and makes arbitration decisions at its
         regular Board meeting.

        August 31 Independent Audit is completed.

        September Arbitration Hearings are held.

        October Arbitration Decisions are made.

The membership fee guidelines are available upon request from the State Bar office. If any member has a question concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact Tom Tinder at the State Bar office at (304) 558-7993 or by e-mail tindert@wvbar.org.