Opinion
98-1369
Opinion delivered May 21, 1999
On November 16, 1998, the Pulaski County Bar Association filed its petition herein in aid of implementing a Lawyers-Helping-Lawyers Program, and, on December 10, 1998, the petition was referred to this court's Professional Conduct Committee for that Committee's study. Since that referral, the Arkansas Bar Association has also indicated its interest in the same type of program. Because the respective bar associations are in the process of addressing various aspects of similar programs existing in other jurisdictions, and that information could be relevant and beneficial to the court's understanding of the Pulaski County Bar Association's petition filed with this court, we request the return of the petition to the court. This will permit the court to establish a format in which the court can best address the issues raised in the Pulaski County Bar Association's original petition and allow the court to schedule hearings to permit all interested parties to submit their studies and views on this matter. The court requests its Committee to continue its study so it can provide us with its work and recommendations.