The Nominations & Elections Committee hereby gives notice that there will be an election for the following officers of the association for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2012: President-elect; Treasurer; one Director who is a past or present circuit vice president; one Director who is a past or present section or division chair; one Director who is a past or present chapter president; one Director who is, at the time of his or her election to the Board, age 36 years or younger; and one Vice President for each of the 12 circuits. Please review specific qualifications for each position at www.fedbar.org/qualifications.
All officers will assume their elected position on October 1, 2012, and serve the following terms: President-elect and Treasurer, one year; four Directors, three years; and Vice Presidents for the Circuits, two years. The incumbent President-elect will automatically succeed the incumbent President on October 1, 2012.
Under Article V, Section 3 of the FBA Constitution, there are two ways for members to be listed on the ballot:
- By nomination of the Nominations & Elections Committee; or
- By petition: (1) a candidate for national office must be endorsed by not less than fifty members in good standing; and (2) a candidate for Vice President for Circuit must be endorsed by not less than twenty members in good standing of chapters and/or members at large in that particular circuit.
Under Article V, Section 2 of the FBA Constitution, all members of the association at the time of nomination, whose dues are paid for the current fiscal year and who otherwise are in good standing, and meet all other qualifications, as may be required by this Constitution, Bylaws, and policies of the Association, shall be eligible as candidates for any elective office (including directors).
Nominations
Members interested in being nominated for office by the Nominations & Elections Committee shall so indicate by letter that details experience in the Federal Bar Association along with a resumé to Fern C. Bomchill, Chair of the Nominations & Elections Committee, at the national office of the association, 1220 North Fillmore Street, Suite 444, Arlington, VA 22201, to be received by February 1, 2012. The letter shall specify the office for which the nomination is sought, the experience of the member in FBA activities, and such other information as may, in the judgment of the member, be of assistance to the committee in making its choice. By February 28, 2012, the Nominations and Elections Committee shall nominate one or more members in good standing for each of the elective offices becoming vacant for the coming term. By April 1, 2012, the Nominations and Elections Committee shall cause to be mailed or electronically sent to each member in good standing—either in The Federal Lawyer or otherwise—notice of the upcoming annual election and of the offices to be filled therein; of the Committee’s nominations for those offices; and the manner and time by which nominations of candidates may be made by petition as provided in Article V, Section 3.b. of the Constitution and Bylaw 6(C).
Petitions
Members who have not been nominated for office by the Nominations & Elections Committee, but who wish to be placed on the ballot for national office, may do so by delivering to Fern C. Bomchill, Chair of the Nominations & Elections Committee, at the national office, a petition specifying the office being sought and bearing the required number of signatures indicated previously. Petitions must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
Mailing and Return of Ballots
In accordance with Bylaw 6(D), by June 15, 2012, the Nominations and Elections Committee shall cause a ballot to be mailed or transmitted electronically to each member of the Association in good standing. The ballot shall list the names of all eligible nominees, in an order drawn by lot, under the respective office for which each has been nominated, with a space provided for writing in the name of a candidate for each office; the ballot also shall contain such instructions for its use as the Committee shall prescribe. A member who is restored to good standing after the mailing of the ballots, and who, prior to 5 p.m. EDT on July 5, 2012, delivers to the Nominations & Elections Committee evidence that he or she has been restored to good standing, shall thereupon be entitled to a ballot. All ballots to be counted must be received by the Nominations & Elections Committee by 5 p.m. EDT on August 1, 2012. The committee shall canvass the vote and promptly report, as elected, the candidate for each office who has received a plurality of the votes cast for the office.