BYLAWS OF THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS, INC.

ARTICLE I: NAME AND STATUS

The name of this organization shall be the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Inc. It shall be a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSES

The Association is formed exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes, including without limitation, the following:

(a) To protect and insure by rule of law those individual rights guaranteed by the Georgia and Federal Constitutions in criminal cases and to resist the efforts which are constantly being made to curtail such rights;

(b) To encourage cooperation between lawyers engaged in the furtherance of such objectives through educational programs and other assistance; and through such cooperation, education, and assistance to promote justice and the common good;

(c) To promote study and research in the field of criminal defense law and the related arts;

(d) To disseminate by lecture, seminars, electronic media, and publications the advancement of knowledge of the law as it relates and is ancillary to the field of criminal defense practice;

(e) To promote the proper administration of criminal justice;

(f) To establish and operate a computerized information system which will make available to criminal defense attorneys source information on forms, briefs, court and appellate decisions, and other desired subjects;

(g) To foster, maintain, and encourage the integrity, independence, and expertise of defense lawyers in criminal cases; and

(h) To foster periodic meetings of criminal defense lawyers and to provide a forum for material exchange of information regarding the administration of criminal justice and thereby concern itself with the protection of individual rights and the improvement of criminal law, its practice, and procedures.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Application for Membership

(a) Membership in the Association shall be by application made on a form prescribed by the Board of Directors. Each applicant may be endorsed by one voting member of the Association with the exception of applicants for Student Membership, who may be endorsed by a Student Member.

(b) All applications for membership must be accompanied by the payment of the appropriate dues.

(c) All memberships, with the exception of Life and Honorary Memberships are on a fiscal basis, which begin on December 1st and end on the following November 30th.

Section 2. Eligibility

(a) A member of the State Bar of Georgia who is or has been actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases is eligible to apply for membership in the Association as a Regular Member.

(b) A member of the State Bar of Georgia who holds full-time judicial or prosecutorial office, is employed by a prosecutorial office, or who acts as a representative for a law enforcement agency is ineligible to become or remain a member of the Association, except as provided in Section 10 of this Article as an honorary member.

(c) A member of the Association in good standing, who subsequently holds on a part-time basis a prosecutorial or judicial office, may remain a member of the Association.

(d) Full-time criminal defense investigators may become associate members of the Association. Investigators must be sponsored by a regular member of the Association. Investigators do not have voting rights and cannot hold office.

Section 3. Charter Membership

The Charter Members of the Association shall consist of those persons who joined the Association prior to December 1, 1974.

Section 4. Contributing Membership

Any person who is admitted to membership as a Regular Member shall be eligible to become a Contributing Member upon application for such status and upon payment of the annual dues as set by the Board of Directors. Each Contributing Member shall be entitled to all voting rights and other rights of Regular Members. Upon request, each Contributing Member shall be given a membership certificate which designates him or her as a Contributing Member. Each such member shall have attached to his or her name tag at all seminars a ribbon with the words "Contributing Member" written thereon. All Contributing Members shall be listed and designated as such in selected issues of the Association's newsletters.

Section 5. Sustaining Membership

Any person who is admitted to membership as a Regular Member shall be eligible to become a Sustaining Member upon application for such status and upon the payment of the annual dues as set by the Board of Directors. Each Sustaining Member shall be entitled to all voting rights and other rights of Regular Members. Upon request, each Sustaining Member shall be given a membership certificate which designates him or her as a Sustaining Member. Each such member shall have attached to his or her name tag at all seminars a ribbon with the words "Sustaining Member' written thereon. All Sustaining Members shall be listed and designated as such in selected issues of the Association's newsletters.

Section 6. Substantial Membership

Any person who is admitted to membership as a Regular Member shall be eligible to become a Substantial Member upon application for such status and upon the payment of the annual dues as set by the Board of Directors. Each Substantial Member shall be entitled to all voting rights and other rights of Regular Members. A Substantial Member who has paid the dues for Life Membership set by the Board of Directors shall become a Life member. Upon request, each Substantial Member shall be given a membership certificate which designates him or her as a Substantial Member. Each such member shall have attached to his or her name tag at all seminars a ribbon with the words "Substantial Member" written thereon. All Substantial Members shall be listed and designated as such in selected issues of the Association's newsletters.

Section 7. Life Membership

Any person who is admitted to membership as a Regular Member shall be eligible to become a Life Member upon application for such status and payment of the amount as set by the Board of Directors. Each Life Member shall hold such membership for life and shall not be obligated to pay any annual dues to the Association. Each Life Member shall have attached to his or her name tag at all seminars a ribbon with the words "Life Member" written thereon. A Substantial Member who has paid the dues for Life Membership set by the Board of Directors shall become a Life member. All Life Members shall be listed and designated as such in selected issues of the Association's newsletters. Life Members, who became Life Members prior to 30 November 2004 are members of the Board of Directors and are entitled to attend all Association seminars without paying any registration fees connected with such seminars except for fees for continuing legal education credit hours. All Regular Members who become Life Members after 1 December 2004 shall pay registration fees for the Association's seminars and shall not become members of the Board of Directors. Each Life member shall be presented a framed certificate.

Section 8. Foreign Membership

An attorney in good standing who has been admitted to practice law in a jurisdiction other than Georgia, and who is otherwise eligible under the terms of these Bylaws for membership, may upon presentation and approval of an application for membership be admitted to a non-voting membership by the payment of the dues as set by the Board of Directors and shall be designated a Foreign Member.

Section 9. Student Membership

A person who is regularly enrolled in a school of law in this State or who has graduated and is waiting to take the Bar Examination is eligible to apply for Student Membership in the Association.

Section 10. Honorary Membership

A person who has made an outstanding contribution to the public welfare and aided in the achievement of the goals of this Association may be elected an Honorary Member of the Association by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, such election requiring an affirmative vote of two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors present at the meeting at which the designation is considered. Honorary memberships shall extend for an indefinite period and are not limited to persons admitted to practice law in Georgia. Honorary Members shall not be obligated to pay dues and shall not be entitled to vote; however, if an Honorary Member elects to pay dues, he or she shall be entitled to vote.

Section 11. Voting Privilege

All dues-paying members, other than Student, Foreign, and Honorary Members, who are members of the State Bar of Georgia are entitled to vote in any of the Association's proceedings when membership voting is taken. Voting at Board of Director meetings shall be as described in paragraph (b) of Section 7 of Article VI.

Section 12. Revocation of Membership

Membership may be terminated, suspended, or a member may be censured in the following manner:

(a) Resignation A member may resign by submitting a written resignation to the President. Such resignation shall become effective on the day submitted provided the member has satisfied all of said membership obligations to the Association. No reimbursements of any dues for the remainder of any fiscal year shall be made upon such resignation. Such resigned member may achieve reinstatement of membership status, by reapplying pursuant to the provisions of these Bylaws. Resignation from membership in the State Bar of Georgia shall automatically result in termination of membership in this Association.

(b) Failure to Pay Dues Any member who fails to pay dues within 180 days following the beginning of the fiscal year of the Association shall automatically be terminated as a member of the Association. Membership status may become available by complying with the provisions of these Bylaws.

(c) Expulsion or Suspension

(1) Upon the filing by any member with the Secretary of the Association and with the Executive Director of the Association a certified copy of the Final Order for the Disbarment or Suspension of any member from the State Bar of Georgia, such person's membership in the Association shall automatically terminate or be suspended, as the case may be.

(2) Upon the filing of any member with the Secretary of the Association and with the Executive Director of the Association of a certified copy of a Final Order for the Disbarment of any member from any other State Bar or Federal Bar, such person's membership in the Association shall be automatically terminated.

(3) Members who act in violation of the Bylaws of this Association may be terminated of Membership by two-thirds majority vote of Members present at the Board of Directors meeting. Prior to the termination action being taken, the affected Member shall be notified in writing 60 days in advance of the hearing of the Board of Directors and shall be given a copy of all charges. Said member shall be notified of the date, time, and place of such hearing and the member may be present at the meeting of the Board of Directors for the purpose of defending against said charges.

(d) Reinstatement of Membership If any person's membership has terminated or been suspended by reason of this section, and the basis for termination or suspension has been removed, such person may reapply for membership pursuant to other provisions of these Bylaws.

(e) Censure A member may be censured for unethical conduct, misconduct, or the commission of any acts in violation of the Bylaws of this Association by two-thirds majority vote of the members present at a Board of Directors meeting. Prior to any such censure action being taken, the affected member shall be notified of the date, time, and place of such hearing, in writing, 30 days in advance of a hearing before the Board of Directors and shall be given a copy of all charges. Said member may be present at the meeting of the Board of Directors for the purposes of defending against said charges.

Section 13. Membership Areas

The State of Georgia is divided into 19 membership districts including counties listed below and as shown on the centerfold map in the Association's Directory of Members.

District 1A

Bryan, Chatham, Jenkins, Screven, Bulloch, Effingham, and Liberty

District 1B

Appling, Charlton, Jeff Davis, Tattnall, Bacon, Coffee, Long, Ware, Brantley, Evans, McIntosh, Wayne, Camden, Glynn, and Pierce

District 2A

Baker, Dougherty, Mitchell, Terrell, Calhoun, Early, Quitman, Clay, Grady, Randolph, Decatur, Miller, and Seminole

District 2B

Atkinson, Colquitt, Lanier, Turner, Berrien, Cook, Lowndes, Worth, Brooks, Echols, Thomas, Clinch, Irwin, and Tift

District 3A

Bibb, Crawford, Houston, and Peach

District 3B

Chattahoochee, Macon, Schley, Talbot, Harris, Marion, Stewart, Taylor, Lee, Muscogee, Sumter, and Webster

District 4A

DeKalb

District 4B

Gwinnett

District 4C

Rockdale

District 5

Fulton

District 6A

Butts, Monroe, Clayton, Henry, and Lamar

District 6B

Fayette, Meriwether, Spalding, Carroll, Heard, Troup, Pike, Upson, and Coweta

District 7A

Cobb, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, and Douglas

District 7B

Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, and Walker

District 8A

Baldwin, Hancock, Jones, Toombs, Candler, Jasper, Morgan, Washington, Emanuel, Jefferson, Putnam, Wilkinson, and Greene

District 8B

Bleckley, Dooley, Pulaski, Twiggs, Ben Hill, Johnson, Telfair, Wheeler, Crisp, Laurens, Treutlin, Wilcox, Dodge, and Montgomery

District 9A

Bartow, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield

District 9B

Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White

District 9C

Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, and Dawson

District 10A

Burke, Glascock, McDuffie, Taliaferro, Columbia, Lincoln, Richmond, Warren, and Wilkes

District 10B

Banks, Elbert, Jackson, Oconee, Barrow, Franklin, Madison, Oglethorpe, Clarke, Hart, Newton, and Walton

ARTICLE IV: FINANCES

Section 1. Annual Dues 

Annual Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors for the various categories of memberships. All dues shall be paid annually on the first day of December.

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at a time and place fixed by the Board of Directors. Publication of a notice of the meeting in the Association's newsletter or seminar announcement is deemed to meet the notice requirement.

Section 2. Special Meetings

Special meetings of the members of the Association may be held as the Board of Directors deem necessary.

Section 3. Notice of Meetings

(a) Notice of the annual meeting shall be given to each member at least 30 days in advance of the meeting.

(b) Written notice of a special meeting shall be given electronically or by United States mail to each member at least 14 days in advance of the meeting.

Section 4. Quorum

A quorum for the transaction of business shall be a majority of the voting members of the Association present.

Section 5. Reports

Committee chairpersons and members with additional items for report shall submit their reports in writing to the Board of Directors of the Association, by electronic means or by mailing his or her report to the Executive Director of the Association, such that the report shall be received at least two weeks prior to any regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. Committee chairpersons and members with additional items for report may, in addition to the written report, address the Board of Directors at regularly scheduled meetings.

ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Powers and Membership

(a) The business and affairs of this Association shall be managed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers of the Association, the immediate past President of the Association, all Life and Substantial Members who were Life or Substantial Members prior to 30 November 2004, and designated Sustaining Members of the Association.

(b) There shall be an Area Vice President for each of the areas designated in Section 13 of Article III with additional Vice Presidents as required by Section 1 of Article VII. 

Section 2. Regular Meetings

The Board of Directors and Executive Committee shall hold regular meetings at such time and place designated by the President with the concurrence of a majority of the Executive Committee. Meetings will normally be held in conjunction with seminars scheduled in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Section 3. Special Meetings 

The Board of Directors shall hold such special meetings as may be called by the President or upon written request of at least eight members of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Notice

The Executive Director of the Association shall notify the Board of Directors of each regular and special meeting by notice given at least seven days in advance of the date of the meeting along with a proposed agenda.

Section 5. Quorum

A quorum for the transaction of business shall be a majority of the elected officers of the Association present.

Section 6. Organization

The President of the Association shall serve as chairperson of the meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the President, the President-elect shall serve as chairperson.

Section 7. Procedure

(a) The Board of Directors may act at meetings, by electronic communication, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the Executive Director of the Association.

(b) Any member of the Board of Directors may vote at a Board of Director's meeting.

Section 8. Vacancies

In the event of death, resignation, or removal of an officer of the Association other than the President, the vacancy may be filled by appointment by the President, subject to confirmation by the Board of Directors. Confirmation or rejection may, at the option of the President, be either by a majority vote of the Board of Directors by electronic mail or United States mail. The failure of any member of the Board of Directors to submit his or her vote within ten days after the date the electronic mail or United States mail is sent to him or her shall be counted as a vote for confirmation.

Section 9. Removal

An elected officer or director of the Association may be removed from office as follows:

(a) For cause, by a vote calling for such removal by three-quarters of the Members of the Board of Directors of the Association, after notice and hearing; or

(b) Upon the failure of such officer or director to attend two consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without an officially excused absence. In the event that an elected officer of the Association cannot attend a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors, due to illness, personal issues, business reasons, or official court proceedings, such officer shall obtain the official excuse of the President, or the President's designee. Vacancies caused by removal of an officer shall be filled in accordance with Section 8, of this Article.

Section 10. Executive Committee

The President, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint an Executive Committee, which shall include the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President Executive Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, and no more than five other individuals the President deems to include on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers 

The officers of the Association shall consist of the following:

(a) President

(b) President-Elect

(c) Executive Vice-President

(d) Secretary

(e) Treasurer

(f) Parliamentarian

(g) One Vice-President for each area designated in Section 13 of Article III of these Bylaws and one additional Vice-President in each area for every 100 members above 100. District 5 shall have a minimum of three Vice-Presidents.

Section 2. Appointment of Executive Director

Upon recommendation of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Director. If appointed, the Executive Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and be paid such salary as is established by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Duties of the President

The President is the chief executive officer of the Association and is responsible to effectively supervise, coordinate, and help carry out the activities and programs of the Association and to preside at its meetings. The President shall also preside at meetings of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Duties of the President-Elect

The President-Elect shall perform such duties as the President may delegate to him or her and such duties as the Board of Directors may assign to him or her. Generally, the President-Elect shall assist the President in performing the duties of the President's office and shall fully inform him or her of the activities of the Association. In the event of the absence or disability of the President, the President-Elect shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and shall perform all other duties of the President. The President-Elect shall take an active part in the affairs of the Association during his or her term of office. The President shall utilize the services of the President-Elect, and the President-Elect shall join the President in carrying out an effective program. In the event of the death or resignation of the President, the President-Elect shall automatically become President of the Association and shall hold office during the remainder of his or her term as President-Elect and during his or her one-year term as President.

Section 5. Duties of the Executive Vice President

The Executive Vice President shall assist the President and President-Elect in the performance of their duties and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. In the case of the absence or disability of the President and the President-Elect, he or she shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and shall perform all other duties of the President and President-Elect. In the case of the death or resignation of the President and the President-Elect, the Executive Vice President shall become President and hold office until the President's and President-Elect's successor are elected and qualified.

Section 6. Duties of the Area Vice Presidents

An Area Vice President shall be elected from each of the areas set out in Section 13 of Article III of these Bylaws. Area Vice Presidents shall serve in a liaison capacity between the Association and:

(1) Members of the Association in the Area Vice President's area;

(2) Other criminal defense lawyers in the Area Vice President's area;

(3) The judiciary in the Area Vice President's area; and

(4) The State and Federal legislators in the Area Vice President's area. Each Area Vice President shall promptly and personally contact all new members of the Association hailing from the Area Vice President's area. Further, the Area Vice Presidents shall encourage all new members of the Association to participate in the activities of the Association, including but not limited to committee involvement. The Area Vice Presidents shall assist the Judicial Recommendation Committee for any judiciary appointments in the Area Vice President's area, including representing the Association as prescribed by the President. The Area Vice Presidents shall also perform such additional duties as are assigned to them by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. Duties of the Secretary

The Secretary of the Association shall attend the meetings of the Association and shall be responsible for seeing that the minutes of these meetings are maintained and that other necessary records of the Association are kept. The Secretary shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 8. Duties of the Treasurer

The Treasurer shall oversee the collection of monies due the Association and the payment of the obligations of the Association in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director is the functioning agent of the Treasurer.

Section 9. Duties of the Executive Director

The Executive Director shall act as the recording secretary of the Association and shall be the custodian of the records of the Association. The Executive Director shall also perform all duties required of an executive director and such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the President or the Board of Directors.

Section 10. Duties of the Parliamentarian

The Parliamentarian of the Association shall attend the meetings of the Association and shall be responsible for questions of procedure and conduct according to Article XII of these Bylaws. The Parliamentarian shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII: ELECTIONS

Preamble

The officers shall take office immediately after adjournment of the annual meeting. The officers shall serve for a term of one year or until his or her successors take office; however, the President-Elect after having served his or her year in that capacity shall automatically become President of the Association and shall serve in that capacity for one year. In no event shall Area Vice Presidents, as described in Sections 1 and 6 of Article VII, be re-elected to such position after three consecutive one year terms within one year of completion of said service.

Section 1. Nominating Committee

At the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Association and prior to the annual meeting of the Association the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least three members of the Association, and shall designate the Chairperson of such Nominating Committee. The nominating Committee shall select candidates for each of the available offices of the Association, whose names shall be placed on the slate of nominees and the ballot.

Section 2. Slate of Nominees

No more than two weeks following the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Association immediately preceding the annual meeting of the Association, the Executive Director shall electronically or by United States mail send to the membership, a slate of nominees which shall designate the persons selected by the Nominating Committee to be elected as the officers of the Association. The slate of nominees shall designate the name of each nominee as well as the office for which such nominees have been selected. Further, the slate of nominees shall have additional spaces wherein members of the Association may enter the names of qualified alternate candidates for such offices.

Section 3. Additional Nominations

A voting member may submit the name of a qualified member of the Association for office by placing the name of said proposed nominee in the appropriate space on the slate of nominees, and returning such amended slate of nominees to the Executive Director of the Association no less than five weeks immediately preceding the annual meeting of the Association. In the event that five or more voting members propose the name of a nominee for a particular office, said nominee's name shall be placed on the ballot for such office in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of Section 4 of this Article.

Section 4. Voting Procedures

(a) Mailing of Ballots: If additional nominations are submitted as provided in Section 3 of this Article, no less than four weeks immediately preceding the annual meeting of the Association, the Executive Director shall electronically or by United States mail, send to the members of the Association a ballot of candidates for office. If no additional nominations are submitted, the slate of nominees shall serve as the ballot of officers for the Association.

(b) Form of Ballots: The ballot shall contain the names of the candidates selected by the Nominating Committee and the additional nominees for offices as selected by the membership. The ballot shall further contain a space wherein the voting member shall indicate the member's name and Membership District, as specified in Section 13 of Article III.

(c) Failure to Return Ballot by Annual Meeting: Any ballot or slate of nominees ballot which is not received by the Executive Director of the Association by 4:00 P.M. on the first day of the seminar held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Association shall be null and void; the member having been deemed to have abstained from voting in such election.

(d) Attendance at Annual Meeting: In the event that any member of the Association who has not previously returned his or her ballot for such elections attends the seminar held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Association, such member may bring his or her ballot and cast his or her vote in person by returning his or her ballot to the Executive Director of the Association no later than 4:00 P.M. on the first day of the seminar held in conjunction with the annual meeting.

(e) Elections: The ballots, whether returned to the Executive Director by mail, electronically, or in person prior to the first day of the seminar held in conjunction with the Associations' annual meeting, or returned to the Executive Director in person by 4:00 P.M. on the first day of the seminar held in conjunction with the Association's annual meeting, shall be tallied by the Executive Director or the Nominating Committee of the Association, and the results of the tallying of such ballots shall be announced at the annual meeting of the Association. Each of the officers elected shall take office immediately after the adjournment of the annual meeting and shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Association.

(f) Majority Vote: Elections shall be by majority vote of the voting members who submit a ballot in accordance with these Bylaws.

Section 5. Eligibility to Vote for Officers

A voting member shall be eligible to vote for the President-Elect, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Parliamentarian of the Association and shall vote for the Vice President(s) from such member's Membership District, as specified in Section 13 of Article III.

ARTICLE IX: POLICIES OF THE CORPORATION AND POLLING OF THE MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Pronouncement or Declaration of Policy 

No member of the association shall officially make any pronouncement or declaration on a question of policy until it has been authorized by the Board of Directors except as provided in Section 2 of this Article.

Section 2. Special Circumstances

When the President determines that it is necessary to make a pronouncement or declaration of policy and the circumstances do not permit a meeting or poll of the Board of Directors, the President may, after obtaining the consent of a majority of the Executive Committee by telephone, e-mail, or otherwise, make the pronouncement or declaration. The chairperson of the Media Relations committee shall be authorized to make a statement to the media on behalf of the Association after consultation with the President.

Section 3. Inauguration of Poll

The Board of Directors may on its own action, or shall upon presentment to the Board of Directors of a petition requesting such action and signed by at least 50 voting members, poll the membership of the Association on any question.

Section 4. Polling Procedure

The Secretary or the Executive Director shall take a poll of the membership by mail or electronic communication of the inquiries necessary to obtain the information desired and by canvassing the votes on the poll at least ten, but not more than 14, days after the sending of the inquiries.

ARTICLE X: COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees

There shall be the following standing committees:

(a) Al Horn Scholarship;

(b) Amicus Curiae;

(c) Indigent Defense;

(d) Lawyers' Assistance;

(e) Legislative;

(f) Membership Services;

(g) Educational Services;

(h) Judicial Recommendations;

(i) Technology;

(j) Media Relations; and

(k) Debra Blum Scholarship

Section 2. Special Committees

There shall be such special or study committees as determined necessary by the President or the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Appointments

The President shall appoint the membership of each committee and designate the chairperson of each committee. The chairperson of each committee shall designate vice chairperson, with the specific intent of grooming such vice chairperson to assume the role of chairperson. Each chairperson shall serve a term as appointed by the President and in no event shall a committee chairperson serve more than three consecutive one year terms without at least one year of not serving as chairperson of the same committee.

Section 4. Committee Meetings

Every standing committee of the Association shall hold no less than one regularly scheduled meeting per year. The standing committee meetings may coincide with other regularly scheduled meetings of the Association or may be held separately at the discretion of the committee chair. The President may request a standing committee to hold a meeting.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENT

These Bylaws may be amended at any annual or special meeting, provided copies of the proposed amendment or amendments are sent electronically or by mail to the Board of Directors at least 15 days prior to the meeting, and provided a majority of the Board of Directors present vote in favor of the amendment or amendments.

ARTICLE XII: RULES OF ORDER

The current edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER shall be rules of order for the transaction of all business before any body of this Association. This revision dated: December 7, 2005

ARTICLE XIII: SERVICE MARK

Section 1. Registration  

A Service mark, class 8, was registered under the laws of the State of Georgia on May 20, 2013, for a ten year period to Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Inc., herein after referred to as GACDL. The Service mark is described in the certificate of registration issued by the Georgia Secretary of State.

Section 2. Exclusive Use  

The registered service mark can only be used by GACDL. The Service mark is the exclusive property of GACDL and no member, individual, group, organization, or entity may use the Service mark for any purpose. Any use of the Service mark by any such person or entity is prohibited. GACDL reserves all rights, title and interest in and to its Service mark and all other marks, slogans, and intellectual properties developed by GACDL.

Section 3. Notice  

At least once each year GACDL will notify members and the public that use of the Service mark is prohibited and any use of a GACDL mark is not an endorsement of, or guarantee by, GACDL on behalf of any member, individual, group or entity.

Section 4. Member Mark  

GACDL has created a Member mark and any member in good standing of GACDL may purchase the right each year to use the GACDL Member mark as proof of their membership in GACDL if the member enters into the GACDL Member Mark Agreement provided by GACDL. The GACDL Member mark must appear in full and in the form provided by GACDL, through the Executive Director, without any modification to the mark. The use of the Member mark must reflect favorably on the member and GACDL. The mark must be used by a member in good standing and only in the membership year indicated on the mark. GACDL reserves the sole and exclusive right to require any member to cease and desist from further use of the Member mark. Use of any other GACDL mark, slogan, or other intellectual property of GACDL is not authorized or allowed. GACDL reserves all rights, title and interest in and to the Member mark and all other GACDL marks, slogans, and intellectual properties. The member must agree that the use of the Member mark is not an endorsement of, or guarantee by, GACDL on behalf of the member, but merely an indication of membership in GACDL for the year stated on the mark.