Members of the Massachusetts Bar Association's House of
Delegates (HOD) endorsed several proposals, and honored an MBA
stalwart, during their March 6 meeting at Suffolk University Law
School.
Before delving into the evening's full agenda, MBA President
Douglas K. Sheff honored MBA Chief Legal Counsel and Chief
Operating Officer Martin W. Healy for 25 years of service to the
MBA. Healy was given a commemorative watch.
During the first of two American Bar Association-related issues
taken up at the meeting, Past President Richard P. Campbell asked
the HOD to endorse the report of the ABA's Task Force on the Future
of Legal education, which passed unanimously. HOD members also
voted to support an ABA resolution, introduced by MBA
President-elect Marsha V. Kazarosian and MBA Vice President
Christopher P. Sullivan, which opposes a federal tax proposal that
would require firms with annual gross receipts of more than $10
million to use the accrual method of accounting.
Past President Kathleen M. O'Donnell then presented extensive
comments from her Professional Conduct Committee's look into
proposed changes to the Rule of Professional Conduct. After the HOD
endorsed her presentation, O'Donnell received a loud ovation in
appreciation of her work on this exhaustive task, with Sheff
noting, "This was not a project; it was a journey."
HOD members also readily supported presentations by the Juvenile
Law, Probate and Access to Justice Section Councils, which included
approval of the 2014 Access to Justice Award nominees.
Continuing this year's tradition of guest speakers, Chief Justice
of the Superior Court Barbara Rouse spoke to HOD members early on
in the agenda about attorney judicial evaluations, assuring them
that attorneys' comments were indeed anonymous. The meeting also
featured a full membership vote, which supported changes to the
MBA's bylaws.