Letters.

Proud Member

I just want to share how incredibly proud I am with my fellow members of The Florida Bar as the result of all the activity surrounding the presidential election and its aftermath.

We are conducting ourselves -- Bar and bench -- in a way that is truly a credit to our state and to our nation: professionally, with dignity and with resolute commitment to due process of law. I think it noteworthy that in over 75 percent of the world, the notion that one could solve such a pivotal set of disputes in an open, evenhanded way, is a distant dream. The normal thing would be to resolve them in the streets or down the barrel of a gun. My opinion is based on more than theory; it was my experiences overseas -- including being shot at -- that helped lead me to the practice of law.

This is a defining moment in history. I am proud to be a member of this Bar. God bless America.

Philip W. Engle

Atlanta

Bar Fees

In reviewing the survey of attorney licensing fees chart in the November 15 News, it is interesting there was no acknowledgment in the issue that the proposed fee for inactive status will be the highest in the nation.

Be fair and give a more accurate picture to the membership. For me, I feel that the inactive fee should not increase. Maybe the Bar should cut back on benefits to the inactive membership. Again, the proposed inactive fee will make Florida have the highest in the nation. Texas and California have only a $50 inactive fee.

Also, it appears Florida's proposed inactive fee as a percentage of the active fee is one of the highest or the highest in the nation.

Reuben W. Cook

Thscaloosa, AL

I read with interest the "blurb" in the November 15 News of the Board of Governors' thoughts on a $75 increase to our Bar dues to be considered and then forwarded to the Supreme Court. Our fees are currently too high.

Your comparison is only being made to the cost of living increases occurring during the last 11 years since our last increase. You fail to take into account that the Bar appears to be using whatever fees are levied to their fullest extent without consideration that some of the uses would be optional if not for the available funds. Indeed, it appears the suggested expenses of the Bar rise to the level of available funds. This happens without much in the way of supervision, as the use has engendered a sort of cottage industry wherein it becomes important to "find" ways to fully use all funding in order to preserve the jobs created.

The...