Suspension for Nonpayment of Alaska

Bar Membership Fees, Fee Arbitration Awards, and Child Support Obligation; and to a Grievance. to Respond for Failure (a) Any member failing to pay any fees within 30 days after they become due shall be notified in writing by certified or registered mail that the Executive Director shall petition a the Supreme Court of Alaska for an order suspending such member for nonpayment of fees. (b) The Executive Director shall annually notify the clerks of court of the names and date of suspension of all members who have been then or previously suspended and not reinstated. (1) Any member who has been suspended for less than one year, upon payment of all accrued dues, in addition to a penalty of $10.00 per week of delinquency (each portion of a week to be considered a whole week) but not exceeding a total of $160.00 in penalties shall be reinstated upon certification by the Executive Director to the Supreme Court and the clerks of court that the dues and penalties have been paid. (2) Any member who has been suspended for a year or more, upon determination of character and fitness as set forth in Rule 2(1)(d) by the Board, upon payment of all accrued dues, in addition to a penalty of $160.00, shall be reinstated upon certification by the Executive Director to the Supreme Court and the clerks of court that the member meets the standard of character and fitness set forth in Rule 2(1)(d) and that dues and penalties have been paid. (c) Any member who without good cause fails to pay a final and binding fee arbitration award within 15 days after it is final and binding shall be notified in writing by certified or 56 registered mail that the Executive Director shall, after 15 days, petition the Supreme Court of Alaska for an order suspending such member for nonpayment of a fee arbitration award. Upon suspension of the member for nonpayment of a fee arbitration award, the member shall not be reinstated until the award is paid or otherwise satisfied and the Executive Director has certified to the Supreme Court and the clerks of court that the award has been paid. (d) Suspension for Nonpayment of Child Support Obligation. (1) If notified by the Child Support Services Division that any member is not in substantial compliance with his or her child support order or a payment schedule negotiated with the Child Support Services Division, the Executive Director shall serve such notice on the member. (2) If the Executive Director has not received a release from the Child Support Services Division, or notice of a court order staying suspension, within 150 days of the mailing or personal service of the notice described in (1) of this paragraph, the Executive Director shall petition the Supreme Court of Alaska for an order suspending such member for substantial noncompliance with his or her child support order or payment agreement negotiated with the Child Support Services Division. Upon suspension of the member for this reason, the member shall not be reinstated until the Child Support Services Division issues a release to the Executive Director and the Executive Director has certified to the Supreme Court and the clerks of court that a release has been issued by the Child Support Services Division. (e) Suspension for Failure to Respond to a Grievance Accepted for Investigation. If a member fails to respond to a grievance accepted for investigation within the time required by Rule 22(a), or within any further time granted in writing by Bar Counsel, Bar Counsel shall petition the Supreme Court of Alaska for an order immediately suspending the member for failure to respond to a grievance accepted for investigation. Upon suspension of the member for failure to respond to a grievance accepted for investigation, the member shall not be reinstated until Bar Counsel has certified to the Supreme Court that a response to the grievance has been filed as required by Rule 22(a). (Added by SCO 233(7) effective April 1, 1976; amended by SCO 343 effective December 18, 1978; by SCO 466 effective June 1, 1981; by SCO 611 effective January 1, 1985; by SCO 971 effective July 15, 1989; by SCO 1232 effective July 15, 1996; by SCO 1310 effective July 15, 1998; by SCO 1376 effective April 15, 2000; by SCO 1652 effective October 15, 2007; and by SCO 1707 effective October 15, 2013)