Aug. 17, 2011 – On Aug. 26, the State Bar Executive Committee will perform its annual Keller dues reduction evaluation for Fiscal Year 13 (July 2012 - June 2013). In response to several recommendations from the Board of Governors’ Keller Review Committee, the Executive Committee is announcing the date of the meeting in case members may wish to attend.

Under Keller v. State Bar of California, 496 U.S. 1 (1990), the State Bar cannot use compulsory dues of objecting members for activities that are not reasonably related to regulating the legal profession or improving the quality of legal services. The board approves an annual reduction of amount for members who object to certain bar expenditures as identified by the Executive Committee. The amount is approved by the Board of Governors using financial statements and activities for the State Bar’s most recently audited fiscal year. Therefore, FY 11 (July 2010 - June 2011) is used to calculate the amount of rebate available to objecting attorneys for the FY 13 fiscal year.

During his term, Past President James Boll appointed the Keller Review Committee to review the process. The committee completed its work and presented its recommendations to the Board of Governors at its June meeting. Committee members included Michael Remington, Washington, D.C., chair; Robert R. Goepel, Racine; Margaret Hickey, Milwaukee; Christine Rew Barden, Madison; and George K. Steil, Janesville.

Members who plan to attend the meeting should contact Natasha Fahey-Flynn at (608) 250-6015 by Aug. 24.