Bylaws of the Central Kentucky American Inn of Court

The Central Kentucky American Inn of Court
Bylaws of the Central Kentucky American Inn of Court

Bylaws of the Central Kentucky American Inn of Court

Article I - General

Section 1. Purpose.

The purposes of The Central Kentucky American Inn of Court are set forth in its Organizational Charter issued by the American Inns of Court Foundation.

Section 2. Principal Location.

The Central Kentucky American Inn of Court shall be located in the city of Lexington, County of Fayette, Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Article II - Organization

Section 1. The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is composed of the officers and at-large members of the Inn, who each shall serve on one of the standing committees formed by the Executive Committee and such other members as are determined by the Masters. 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, past president (immediate), a counselor, a secretary and a treasurer, and such other officers as the Masters deem necessary. The officers serve a one year term, or as otherwise directed by the Masters, and may succeed themselves only once. The officers are selected by the Masters in accordance with the Organizational Charter of the Inn.

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, including the removal of members from the Inn due to behavior contrary to the purposes of the Inn as set forth in its Organizational Charter; 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 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 functions of the Inn within the parameters as set forth by the Executive Committee.

Reporting Committee. The Reporting Committee shall be responsible for the distribution of news, announcements, and other information among members of the Inn, and to the American Inns of Court Foundation, shall be responsible for submitting program reports to the American Inns of Court Foundation; and, shall prepare articles for the Bencher.

Liaison Committee- The Liaison Committee shall maintain communication with local law schools, other legal organizations, and the local community in order to advise interested persons of Inn activities.

The officers shall appoint committee members and chairs of the committees. Chairs of Committees shall serve one year terms, or as otherwise directed by the Executive Committee, and may succeed themselves only once. A consideration for committee member appointments is the inclusion of members on committees who are Masters, Barristers and Associates.

Committees may appoint deputy chairs and create ad hoc sub-committees, as appropriate.

Section 4. Pupilage Groups.

All active members will be assigned to a Pupilage Group by the Membership Committee and shall be approved by the Executive Committee. Each Pupilage Group shall be chaired by a Master appointed by the Executive Committee. The Masters and Pupilage 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 a full fifteen (15) years of experience, judges and law professors;
Barristers - consisting of lawyers with at least a full five (5) years of experience;
Associates - consisting of lawyers with zero (0) through five (5) years of experience; and
Pupils - consisting of law students.

Membership in this American Inn of Court shall consist of Masters, Barristers and Associates. Pupils may participate in all activities of the Inn, but will not be voting members. Associates shall serve a term of two years, running from July 1 through June 30, or as otherwise directed by the Executive Committee and may apply to serve consecutive terms.

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 two unexcused absences from the monthly meetings in a year. The Membership Committee shall monitor attendance at meetings and shall submit the names of those who have three unexcused 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, and in the event another unexcused absence occurs, this member will be dropped from the rolls and all dues will be forfeited.

Article V - Voting and Elections

Section 1. Masters.

With the exception of Emeritus and Honorary Members, each Master shall be entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to the Masters. A majority of Masters eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Every act done or decision made by a majority of the Masters in attendance at a meeting shall be regarded as the act of all the Masters.

Section 2. Executive Committee.

Each member of the Executive Committee shall be entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to the Committee. The President shall only cast his or her vote in the event of a tie. 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. Elections.

The nomination and election of the officers will occur every year during the months of May or June by the Masters eligible to vote at any regularly or specially called meeting or function. Selection of these and other officers shall be in accordance with the Organizational Charter.

Section 4. Vacancies.

When a position as an officer, Committee Chair or Master Chair of a Pupilage Team becomes vacant, the procedures for election and selection 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.

Article VI - Fiscal Matters

Section 1. Fiscal Year.

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

Article VII - Adoption and Amendments

Section 1. Adoption.

These Bylaws will be adopted by this American Inn of Court upon approval by a majority of the Masters eligible to vote 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. The Masters eligible to vote may make valid decisions by voting by mail, facsimile, electronic mail, or other means when deemed necessary by the Executive Committee or the President.

Section 2. Amendments.

Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a majority of the Masters eligible to vote 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. The Masters eligible to vote may make valid decisions by voting by mail, facsimile, electronic mail, or other means when deemed necessary by the Executive Committee or the President.