A report by the Court Study Task Force, action on the so-called "anniversary fee" and approval of this year's Access to Justice Award winners topped the agenda for the Nov. 13 meeting of the MBA House of Delegates in Worcester.
Among the actions taken, the House:
• Accepted a report by the Court Study Task Force that recommends several significant changes in the administration and management of the courts and reaffirms nine major policy points of the 1991 Harbridge House Report. (See article, page 4.)
• Adopted a resolution by the Civil Litigation Section to oppose implementation of and seek the repeal of the so-called "anniversary fee" on civil litigation. (See article, page 4.)
• Approved the slate of nominees for this year's Access to Justice Awards, to be given out during Annual Conference 2004 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel on Jan. 23. (See Annual Conference special section in this issue.)
• Accepted a report recognizing the critical importance of accurate and timely trial transcripts to effective appellate review and supporting improvements recommended by the Report of the Study Committee on Trial Transcripts.
• Approved MBA Ethics Opinion No. 2003-4: Whether an attorney may undertake representation against a former client.
• Authorized the MBA President to submit an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Judicial Court in the case of Commonwealth v. Pelosi.
• Heard an update from the Judicial Evaluations Task Force, as well as reports by Executive Director Abigail Shaine and General Counsel Martin Healy.
The next House of Delegates meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2004 during the Annual Conference, to be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Included on the agenda is an address by the state's new Chief Justice for Administration and Management of the Trial Court, Robert A. Mulligan. Members are welcome to attend.