The Supreme Court appoints ten positions to the State Bar Board of Governors - three At-Large Governors, three District Governors and four Public Members who are selected from a list of public member nominees submitted by the State Bar Board of Governors. Staggered terms are one, two and three years depending on the position.
The State Bar Board of Governors Responsibilities provides strategic oversight of State Bar programs and services. Specific powers enumerated by court rule include:
- Fix and collect, as provided in these rules, fees approved by the Supreme Court, which shall be paid into the treasury of the State Bar.
- Promote and aid in the advancement of the science of jurisprudence, the education of legal professionals and the improvement of the administration of justice.
- Approve budgets and make appropriations and disbursements from funds of the State Bar to pay expenses necessary for carrying out its functions.
- Formulate and declare rules and regulations not inconsistent with Supreme Court Rules that are necessary or expedient to enforce these rules, and by rule fix the time and place of State Bar meetings and the manner of calling special meetings thereof, and determine what number shall constitute a quorum of the State Bar.
- Appoint a Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director to manage the State Bar's day-to-day operations.
- Appoint from time to time one or more executive committees composed of members of the board and vest in the executive committees any powers and duties granted to the board as the board may determine.
- Prepare an annual statement showing receipts and expenditures of the State Bar for the twelve preceding months. The statement shall be promptly certified by the secretary-treasurer and a certified public accountant, and transmitted to the Chief Justice of this Court.
- Create and maintain the Client Protection Fund, as required by this court and authorized by the membership of the State Bar on April 9, 1960, said fund to exist and be maintained as a separate entity from the State Bar in the form of the Declaration of Trust established January 7, 1961, as subsequently amended and as it may be further amended from time to time by the board. The trust shall be governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Board of Governors in accordance with the terms of the trust and the trustees shall govern and administer the Fund pursuant to the provisions of the trust as amended from time to time by the board and in accordance with such other procedural rules as may be approved by the Board of Governors.
- Implement and administer mandatory continuing legal education in accordance with Rule 45.
- Administer a Board of Legal Specialization to certify specialists in specified areas of practice in accordance with Arizona Supreme Court Rule 44.
- Establish, maintain, and fund the administration of a voluntary member assistance program to assist lawyers whose performance may be impaired by a mental, emotional, or behavioral condition, including use of alcohol or other drugs.
Meetings are typically 3 hours long and occur 9 times each year. In addition to attending board meetings, Governors may serve on specialized board committees.
For more information please visit, Board of Governors (azbar.org)