Opinion
No. 00-329
November 19, 2008
ORDER
Pursuant to Section VI, Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating Rules (2006), the Trustees of the State Bar of Montana have petitioned the Court for general dues increase and for a Pro Hac Vice fee increase.
The State Bar of Montana (Petitioner) has petitioned this Court to increase the dues for active members of the State Bar $50, from $150 to $200 and to increase the dues for inactive members $50, from $75 to $125. In addition, Petitioner has petitioned this Court to amend the 2005 Rules for Admission to the Bar of Montana on Pro Hac Vice for the sole purpose of raising the fee paid by Pro Hac Vice applicants to be the same as the annual dues paid by active members.
The State Bar submits that a dues increase is necessary to meet the State Bar of Montana's increased costs of administration, lawyer's assistance program, and to continue to perform the Bar's designated purposes. An increase in the pro hac vice fee will support activities of the Bar with pro hac vice admittees assuming responsibility for an appropriate share of the administrative costs. Therefore,
IT IS ORDERED comments and responses from the State Bar membership and the public regarding the Petition of the State Bar of Montana for a Dues Increase may be submitted to the Clerk of this Court on or before February 17, 2009.
Thereafter, the State Bar shall have until February 20, 2009, to respond to the comments from the public and the State Bar membership.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the State Bar of Montana is requested to give notice of this Order and of its website posting in the next available issue of The Montana Lawyer.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order be circulated electronically by the office of the Clerk of this Court to all district court judges in the state of Montana. In addition, a copy of this Order shall be electronically published on the website of the judicial branch,http://www/courts/mt.gov, and on the website of the State Bar of Montana.
/S/ KARLA M. GRAY
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
/S/ JOHN WARNER
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ BRIAN MORRIS