Judicial Units, Boards, and Commissions

members must be lawyers with a minimum of fif-
teen years of law practice, and one member must
represent the public. The Commission elects its
own chairperson from among its membership.

The Commission is empowered to investigate
complaints, conduct hearings, or take informal
action as it deems necessary provided that the
judge involved has been properly notified. Its op-
erating procedures are as follows: The Commis-
sion conducts a preliminary investigation to de-
termine whether to initiate formal proceedings,
after which a hearing may be held regarding the
judge's alleged misconduct or disability. If, as a
result of these hearings, the Commission by a ma-
jority vote decides that a judge should be retired,
censured, or publicly reprimanded it recommends
that course of action to the Court of Appeals.
The Court of Appeals may order a more severe
discipline of the judge than the Commission rec-
ommends. In addition, the Commission has the
power in limited situations to issue a private rep-
rimand (Code 1957, Art. 40, sec. 45; Code Courts
Article, secs. 13-401 through 13-403; Md. Rule
1227).

THE COURT OF APPEALS STANDING
COMMITTEE ON RULES OF
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

David Ross, Chairperson

Robert M. Bell, J. Louis Boublitz, Lowell R.
Bowen, Robert R. Bowie, Albert D. Brault, Je-
rome F. Connell, Leo William Dunn, Jr., Wil-
liam A. Franch, Judson P. Garrett, Jr., John
0. Herrmann, Frederick W. Invernizzi, Alexan-
der G. Jones, Michael J. Kelly, James J. Lom-
bardi, John F. McAuliffe, Paul V. Niemeyer,
George A. Nilson, Anne C. Ogletree, Joseph E.
Owens, Kenneth C. Proctor, Robert J. Ryan,
A. James Smith, Melvin J. Sykes, Arnold M.
Weiner.

Larry S. Gibson, Reporter
Linda M. Richards, Assistant Reporter

District Court Building
P. 0. Box 1911
Annapolis 21404 Telephone: 269-2492

The Standing Committee on Rules of Practice
and Procedure, usually called the Rules Commit-
tee, was originally appointed by an order of the
Court of Appeals on January 22, 1946, to succeed
an ad hoc Committee on Rules of Practice and
Procedure appointed by the Court on March 5,

Judiciary/391

1940. Its membership comprises judges, lawyers,
and a court clerk. The Rules Committee meets
regularly to recommend changes in or additions
to the rules of the Court of Appeals governing
the practice and procedure of law and judicial ad-
ministration.

STATE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS

Chairperson: Jerrold V. Powers, 1982

M. Natalie McSherry, 1980; J. Frederick Sharer,
1980; William Francis Abell, Jr., 1981; David
C. Daneker, 1981; Charles H. Dorsey, Jr.,
1983; William H. Price II, 1984.

John E. Boerner, Secretary to the Board
Joanne G. Dowgwillo, Clerk to the Board
Annapolis 21404 Telephone: 269-2140

The Courts of Maryland were first authorized
to examine persons seeking to practice law in
1715 (Acts 1715, Chap. 48, sec. 12). The exami-
nation of attorneys remained a function of the
courts of the State until 1898, when the Legisla-
ture created the State Board of Law Examiners
(Chapter 139, Acts of 1898). The Board is com-
posed of seven members appointed by the judges
of the Court of Appeals. Twice yearly, in the win-
ter and summer, the Board conducts examina-
tions for admission to the Bar. It also passes
upon the petitions of attorneys from other states
desiring admission and administers an Out-of-
State Attorneys' Examination twice yearly. The
Board passes upon appeals from the findings and
recommendations of the Character Committees of
the various circuits. Law students expecting to
practice in Maryland must register their inten-
tions with the Board. The Court of Appeals for-
mulates the rules governing the Board, but the
Board may prescribe rules for the conduct of ex-
aminations, providing such rules do not conflict
with those made by the Court (Code 1957, 1976
Replacement Volume, Art. 10, secs. 2-8).

JUDICIAL NOMINATING
COMMISSIONS

APPELLATE JUDICIAL NOMINATING
COMMISSION

Chairperson: H. Vernon Eney

First Appellate Circuit: Dorothy Startt; John W.
T. Webb