Photo Credit: Jason Scally
The Massachusetts Bar Association's House of Delegates (HOD)
convened for its final meeting of the 2014-15 membership year on
Thursday, May 28, at the MBA's Boston office, where HOD members
voted to approve several recommendations.
Following the officers' reports, MBA Chief Legal Counsel and
Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy gave an update on the
state's 2016 fiscal budgeting process, particularly as it related
to court funding, criminal justice attorney compensation and legal
aid. He also presented two matters that were voted on separately --
approval of ABA delegates and EMB members -- which HOD members
passed unanimously.
Susan G. Anderson, chair of the Access to Justice Section
Counsel, introduced a resolution, which was approved by HOD
members, stating that "the MBA urges all to recognize that Trial
Court Law Libraries are key to providing access to justice by
serving self-represented litigants, the public and lawyers,
including lawyers providing pro bono services, and that these
positions be funded and filled by the Trial Court."
Two changes to the MBA's Section Council structure were also
passed by the HOD. First, HOD members approved the request of the
Immigration Law Section Council, introduced by Chair Jennifer
Klein, to disband the Immigration Section and become a practice
group under the Access to Justice Section. In addition, HOD members
voted affirmatively to change the name of the Individual Rights and
Responsibilities Section to the Civil Rights and Social Justice
Section, following a presentation by Michelle A. Keith, the
section's chair.
Taxation Law Section Council Chair David Saliba then spoke
briefly about updating the "innocent spouse rules" in
Massachusetts, which help rectify the inequities that sometimes
affect married taxpayers filing jointly due to strict adherence to
the rule of joint and several liability for tax deficiencies.
Unlike the federal innocent spouse rules, which were updated in
1998, Massachusetts' innocent spouse rules have remained virtually
unchanged. HOD members voted affirmatively to file legislation to
amend the innocent spouse rules in Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 62(C),
sec. 84) to make them harmonious with the federal rules.
The HOD meeting marked the last one under MBA President Marsha
V. Kazarosian, who, after providing an update of recent and
upcoming events, offered heartfelt thanks to her fellow officers
and HOD members for their support. Her fellow MBA officers also
took time during their officer reports to praise Kazarosian's
leadership during the past year.