The Massachusetts Bar Association's House of Delegates (HOD) met
for the first time under current MBA President Marsha V. Kazarosian
at the inaugural meeting of the 2014-15 association year on Sept.
30.
Kazarosian kicked off the meeting by congratulating President-elect
Robert W. Harnais and Secretary Christopher P. Sullivan on their
recent awards from the Quincy Bar Association and Federal Bar
Association, respectively. The MBA president also announced that
she has been appointed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick to serve on his
Commission to Study the Compensations of assistant district
attorneys and Commission for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) staff
attorneys.
In addition to discussing her newly created Voir Dire Task Force
and the MBA's role in discussions over voir dire implementation and
education, Kazarosian highlighted several important dates for the
2014-15 year, including the MBA's Annual Dinner, which will be held
May 7, 2015.
Following reports from other MBA officers and Chief Legal Counsel
and Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy, the HOD took action on
several agenda items, voting to:
- Elect Walter A. Costello Jr., James Gavin Reardon Jr. and Paul
E. White to three-year appointments on the MBA's Executive
Management Board and to elect Martha Rush O'Mara to fill the
vacancy created by Veronica J. Fenton;
- Elect Richard P. Campbell, William T. Hogan III, Josephine A.
McNeil and Brigid E. Mitchell each to a two-year term as MBA
Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates;
- Support the recommendation of the Probate Law Section Council
that SCJ Rule 1:14 be deleted altogether since Section 3-904 of the
MUPC makes such Rule unnecessary; and
- Authorize the MBA to engage the SJC to hold a more detailed
review of Rule 45 prior to any amendments being adopted.