WCBA By-Laws

I am pleased to announce that following feedback from numerous members and much discussion, the Board of Directors has voted to approve multiple amendments to our bylaws. A copy of the complete updated bylaws is available at our website willcountybar.org. The following is a list of the amended sections, amendments in BOLD:

Section 5(B) – All judges shall be honorary, non-voting members, unless they shall elect to become active, voting members by paying the appropriate assessments, but in either case, a sitting judge shall be ineligible to serve as an officer or director. See Section 8F for instances where a current officer or director is sworn in as a judge.

Section 8(F) – Unless prior resignation has been provided, any officer or director sworn in for the office of judge within the state of Illinois shall, by that act, resign his or her position as director or officer and shall be immediately removed as director or officer and become an honorary member under Section 5, paragraph B.

Section 5(C) – Upon application, any attorney, licensed to practice in the State of Illinois, who lives or maintains an office in Will County or appears in any court in Will County who shall have been newly admitted to the Bar of the State of Illinois, shall not be required to pay assessments during the first two fiscal years after his or her admission but shall retain voting privileges.

Section 18(D) – A new member applying for the Association or a member of the Association submitting payment for his/her assessment, is eligible for a $50 deduction from his/her total assessment if he/she is a member in good standing of another Will County Organized Bar Association. Will County Organized Bar Association means a bar association that has existed for a minimum of three (3) years and does not discriminate in its membership practices on the basis of sex, race, age, religion, handicap, sexual orientation, or national origin. To be an eligible for the $50 deduction, the new member of the Association or member of the Association must provide a statement that he/she is a member in good standing of a Will County Organized Bar Association, other than the Association, either in his/her application or at the time of payment of the assessment. If any new member of the Association or member of the Association is found to have provided false information, the Board of Directors reserves the right to assess a penalty or terminate said individual’s membership to the Association.

I am very proud that our Board has approved these proposals. With these changes, the WCBA reinforces its commitment to the leadership of Attorney members of the Association while continuing to recognize the benefits of members of the judiciary within our Association. Further, the change to allow reduced dues assessments based upon membership in other Will County Bar Associations strengthens our commitment to serve and benefit all attorneys and all members of the Will County legal community. We believe the Association will be better served with these changes and look forward to increased activity and partnership with the Judiciary and the members and leadership of fellow Will County Bar Associations.

Sincerely,
Bob Bodach
President
Will County Bar Association