§34-3-40. Established; composition; terms of office.

(a) The governing body of Alabama State Bar shall be the Board of Commissioners composed of at least one member from each judicial circuit; provided that, for this purpose, that part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, known as the "Bessemer Cut-off" electoral district, for electing its circuit judge shall be considered and construed as a separate judicial circuit. Each commissioner, at the time of nomination and election and during incumbency, shall be a member in good standing of the Alabama State Bar whose principal office is maintained in the circuit he or she represents.

(b) The membership of the Board of Commissioners of the State Bar shall be constituted as follows:

(1) One member from each judicial circuit.

(2) One member from the electoral district of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, known as the "Bessemer Cut-off" electoral district, for electing its circuit judge.

(3) One additional commissioner for each 300 members of the State Bar in a circuit who maintain their principal office in the circuit as of March 1 of each year, each such commissioner to be an additional representative for his or her circuit; provided, however, that no circuit and no county shall be entitled to more than 10 commissioners.

(4) Those persons selected as at-large members of the Board of Commissioners pursuant to Section 34-3-41(b)(5).

(c) Except for at-large members of the Board of Commissioners who shall be selected as provided pursuant to Section 34-3-41(b)(5), each commissioner shall be elected in the manner hereinafter provided and shall hold office for three years, except that the initial terms for additional commissioners under subdivision (b)(3) of this section may be limited pursuant to Section 34-3-41(b)(2).

(Acts 1923, No. 133, p. 100, §1; Code 1923, §6220; Code 1940, T. 46, §21; Acts 1986, No. 86-544, p. 1076, §2; Act 2004-530, p. 1115, §1.)