A.P. Tureaud American Inn of Court Bylaws

Article I

General

Section 1. Purpose.

The purposes of The A. P. Tureaud American Inn of Court (the "Inn") are set forth in its Organizational Charter issued by the American Inns of Court Foundation.

Section 2. Principal Location.

The Inn shall be located in the City of New Orleans, Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana.

Article II

Organization

Section 1. The Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee is composed of the officers and such other members as are determined by the voting members in accordance with the Inn's Organizational Charter and these Bylaws. The duties of the Executive Committee, and its members, are set forth in the Organizational Charter, and as set forth herein.

Section 2. The Officers.

The officers of the Inn shall be a president, a counselor, a secretary/treasurer or secretary and treasurer, and such other officers as the Masters of the Bench ("Masters") deem necessary. The officers serve a two‑year term, or as otherwise directed by the Masters, and may succeed themselves two consecutive terms. The term limit set forth in the previous sentence shall apply starting with the election of officers in 2017. The officers are elected by the Masters in accordance with the Inn's Organizational Charter and these Bylaws.

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 committees.

Initially, the following standing committees shall be established: Membership Committee, Program Committee, Social Committee, Reporting Committee and Liaison Committee.

Among such other duties as may be assigned by the Masters and the Executive Committee, the duties of each committee shall be as follows:

Membership Committee—The Membership Committee shall solicit and review 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 Pupillage groups.

Program Committee—The Program Committee shall oversee and approve program topics, and shall be responsible for submitting programs for Continuing Legal Education credit.

Social Committee—The Social Committee shall be responsible for scheduling, arranging and collecting monies for approved social and community service functions of the Inn within the parameters as set forth by the Executive Committee.

The officers shall appoint committee members and chairs of the committees, who shall serve two year terms, or as otherwise directed by the Executive Committee, and may succeed themselves only once.

Committees may create ad hoc sub‑committees, as appropriate.

Section 4. Pupillage Groups.

All active members will be assigned to a Pupillage Group by the Membership Committee and shall be approved by the Executive Committee. Each Pupillage Group shall be chaired by a Master appointed by the Executive Committee. The Masters and Pupillage Groups shall be reassigned every two years.

Article III.

Membership.

Section 1. Active Members.

There are four classifications of members in an American Inn of Court, as defined in the bylaws of the American Inns of Court Foundation, and as set forth below:

Masters of the Bench—consisting of lawyers with at least 15 years of experience, judges and law professors;
Barristers—consisting of lawyers with at least 5-14 years of experience;
Associates—consisting of lawyers with 0-4 years of experience; and,
Pupils—consisting of law students.

Membership in the Inn shall consist of Masters, Barristers and Associates. The Inn may invite Pupils to participate in all activities of the Inn, but such Pupils will not be voting members. Membership in any category may be terminated in the sole discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Inactive Members.

The Executive Committee may confer Emeritus and Honorary memberships as set forth in the Organizational Charter.

Article IV

Meetings and Attendance

Section 1. Meetings.

Meetings shall be held at least six times per year at such times as the Executive Committee may determine. The Inn shall endeavor to have at least one social event per year wherein members may invite guests.

Section 2. Attendance.

Each active member will be allowed three unexcused absences from the meetings in a year. The Membership Committee shall monitor attendance at meetings and shall submit to the Executive Committee the names of those who have three unexcused absences in each of two consecutive years. The non‑participating member will be contacted by the Membership Chair in order to determine if he/she wishes to remain in the Inn, and in the event another unexcused absence occurs, this member may be dropped from the rolls and all dues will be forfeited.

Article V

Voting and Elections.

Section 1. Voting Members

With the exception of Emeritus and Honorary Masters and Pupils, who shall not be entitled to vote, each member shall be entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to the voting members. A majority of voting members, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided that, when any action is required to be voted upon by a certain class of member (e.g., Masters), a majority of members of that class, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such specified action. Every act done or decision made by a majority of the voting members or certain class of voting members in attendance at a meeting shall be regarded as the act of all the members or class of members, as applicable.

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 Committee.

Section 3. Nominations and Elections.

The Executive Committee shall serve as the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall nominate individuals to serve as officers in every odd-numbered year at a meeting called for that purpose and held in advance of the meeting of the voting members called for the purpose of electing officers.

The election of all officers shall occur in every odd-numbered year a meeting of the voting members specially noticed for that purpose. The President and Counselor shall be elected by majority vote of the Masters present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting, and all other officers shall be elected by majority vote of all voting members voting together as one class, present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting. Election of officers shall be in accordance with the Organizational Charter and these Bylaws.

Section 4. Vacancies.

When a position as an officer, committee chair or master chair becomes vacant, the procedures for nomination and election of officers and chairs shall be followed when the vacancy occurs; however, the duration of the vacant position shall not be counted against the new officer or chair in regards to any maximum term of service.

Section 5. Proxies

At any meeting of members of any classification, every member having the right to vote is entitled to vote in person or by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing signed by the member and bearing a date not more than 30 days before the meeting. However, no member shall be permitted to vote on behalf of more than three proxies at a meeting.

Article VI

Fiscal Matters

Section 1. Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Inn shall be the same as the fiscal year of the American Inns of Court Foundation, which is from July 1 to June 30 of each year.

Section 2. Dues.

Dues shall be in an amount consistent with the Organizational Charter and dues approved by the Executive Committee shall be levied by the Treasurer during the month of January of each year. Failure to pay assessments and dues within sixty (60) days after the levy date and after reasonable notice may be considered by the Executive Committee as grounds to terminate membership of the person in default.

Section 3. Expenses.

The Inn may pay reasonable expenses incurred by members of the Executive Committee for such things as approved attendance at state, regional or national events of the American Inns of Court Foundation and payment to an administrator.

Article VII

Adoption and Amendments.

Section 1. Adoption.

These Bylaws will be adopted by the Inn upon approval by a majority of the voting members of the Inn present and voting in person or by proxy at a meeting duly noticed 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 voting members of the Inn present and voting in person or by proxy at a meeting duly noticed and must be submitted to and approved, in writing, by the Board of Trustees of the American Inns of Court Foundation.