State Ex Rel. Schwab v. Washington State Bar Ass'nState Ex Rel. Schwab v. Washington State Bar Ass'n
- Reporters:
- , , ,
- Before:
- Stafford
Lead Opinion
Anthony R. Schwab, the petitioner, was admitted to the practice of law in 1969. At that time he became a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the respondent herein, pursuant to
Petitioner admits that in 1970 he refused to pay the required fee for membership in the Washington State Bar Association.
Petitioner suggests that there are serious legal and policy considerations involved. However, except for three issues to be discussed hereafter, he has either failed to provide us with the proper legal argument or has failed to support his suggestions with legal authority, or both. We have held consistently that issues and propositions that are not argued in the brief will not be considered; nor will they be considered when they are not supported by legal authority, unless it is apparent without further research that they are well taken. DeHeer v. Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
The foregoing rule is peculiarly applicable to a case wherein one attempts, by bare allegation or suggestion, to call into question fundamental relationships between the state bar association and the three branches of government. We will not decide such basic issues without the benefit of an adequate brief that at least demonstrates that the reasons are well taken, which is not the case here.
On June 5, 1970, petitioner was notified that the board of governors had suspended him “from membership in the State Bar Association because of failure to pay dues . . .” This fact was certified to the Supreme Court.
Petitioner argues that the mandatory suspension for nonpayment of dues provided in
First, we have held repeatedly that only the Supreme Court has the power to suspend one from the practice of law or to take other disciplinary action. In re Bruen,
Second,
The foregoing statute and our past decisions make it evident that this court does not share the power of discipline, disbarment, suspension or reinstatement with either the legislature or the state bar association. The ultimate constitutional power clearly lies within the sole jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. This point is conceded in the brief of the respondent bar association.
Such constitutional concept leaves no room for thé notion that a lawyer’s authority to practice law is subject to some vague dual existence, one part of which may be terminated by the bar’s suspension of his membership while the other (i.e., his authority to practice law before the courts) is subject to control of the Supreme Court. In short, membership in the state bar association and authorization to continue in the practice of law coexist under the aegis of one authority, the Supreme Court.
We have long recognized that both the mechanical acts of collecting dues and of reporting delinquent payments are merely ministerial. Traditionally, the Supreme Court has delegated these duties to the bar association. In
In the instant case, although the board of bar governors routinely proceeded with the suspension procedure, we did not exercise our exclusive power to issue an order of suspension. Until so ordered by the Supreme Court, petitioner’s authority to practice law and his membership in the Washington State Bar Association were not suspended. Thus, petitioner was enabled to challenge the acts of the bar without jeopardizing his authority to practice law under
The state bar association informed petitioner that he would be required to pay $150 for reinstatement of his membership. The full amount was paid under protest.
Petitioner contends that the assessment of $150 for reinstatement was erroneous. He argues that the state bar association was authorized to collect only $75 (i.e., the accrued membership fee of $25 plus a penalty of $50).
Any member . . . may be reinstated upon payment of accrued fees and such penalties as may be imposed by the board of governors, not exceeding double the amount of the delinquent fee.
(Italics ours.)
Heretofore, we have found it unnecessary to consider that portion of
Next, petitioner asserts that the Washington State Bar Association should transfer its principal place of business to the seat of government in Olympia. It is argued that State ex rel. Lemon v. Langlie,
Petitioner has misconceived the import of Lemon. That case is limited to an interpretation of article 3, section 24 and article 14, sections 1 and 2 of the Washington State Constitution,
In view of the history of the seat of government controversy in this state, culminating as it did in the framing of Article III, § 24, and Article XIV, §§ 1 and 2, of the state constitution, we hold that it was the evident intention of the framers of the constitution and the people who adopted it to require that all of the state executive offices be maintained at the seat of government.
(Italics ours.)
It is clear that Lemon is concerned with the state’s executive offices and is not applicable to the judicial branch of the government. Nothing in Lemon indicates that the state bar association should be treated as an integral part of the executive branch merely because the legislature created the integrated bar by means of the State Bar Act, RCW 2A8 et seq.
On the showing made here, we see no valid reason for extending the rule in Lemon to an association that is sui generis, many of whose important functions are directly related to, and in aid of, the judicial branch of the government.
The petitioner and respondent shall bear their own costs.
Hamilton, C.J., Finley, Rosellini, Hunter, Neill, and Wright, JJ., concur.
Notes
We wish to make it crystal clear that our decision has no bearing on the issue of whether the State Bar Act may be amended or superseded by rule of the Supreme Court. This issue has not been raised. Our present examination of the subject is limited to a review of
Const. art. 3, § 24. “Records, Where Kept, Etc. The governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of public lands and attorney general shall severally keep the public records, books and papers relating to their respective offices, at the seat of government, at which place also the governor, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor shall reside.”
Const, art. 14, § 1. “State Capital, Location op. The legislature shall have no power to change, or to locate the seat of government of this state; but the question of the permanent location of the seat of government of the state shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the Territory, at the election to be held for the adoption of this
Const, art. 14 § 2. “Change of State Capitol. When the seat of government shall have been located as herein provided, the location thereof shall not thereafter be changed except by a vote of two-thirds of all the qualified electors of the state voting on that question, at a general election, at which the question of location of the seat of government shall have been submitted by the legislature.”
The said board of governors shall likewise have power, in its discretion, from time to time to adopt rules, subject to the approval of the supreme court, fixing the qualifications, requirements and procedure for admission to the practice of law; and, with such approval, to establish from time to time and enforce rules of professional conduct for all members of the state bar; and, with such approval, to appoint boards or committees to examine applicants for admission; and, to investigate, prosecute and hear all
(Italics ours.) See also Clark v. Washington,
Concurrence Opinion
(concurring in the result) — I concur in the result of this opinion but disagree with those parts of it which imply that the Washington State Bar Association is not a creature of the legislature but exists rather at the sufferance of this court. That the highest court of the state, created by the constitution, possesses many inherent powers with respect to the discipline of attorneys is not to be denied. But it is equally true that the legislature is not without power to prescribe requirements for the admission to practice and minimum standards of conduct for attorneys.
The legislature may, I believe, create agencies to enforce these requirements and standards. There are many ways in which the legislature could in the public interest have regulated the practice of law, but it chose to do so by creating an integrated state bar association. To accomplish its purpose, it saw fit to make the state bar a governmental agency.
There is hereby created as an agency of the state, for the purpose and with the powers hereinafter set forth, an association to be known as the Washington State Bar Association, hereinafter designated as the state bar,which association shall have a common seal and may sue and be sued, and which may, for the purpose of carrying into effect and promoting the objects of said association, enter into contracts and acquire, hold, encumber and dispose of such real and personal property as is necessary thereto.
(Italics mine.)
Assuming the validity of the integrated bar act of which
We are not concerned in this case with the illegal delegation of powers to this state agency as I see it, nor with questions of equal protection and special privileges and immunities under the Fourteenth Amendment, and their resolution here ought not be implied.
Petition for rehearing denied March 24, 1972.