NPO: Nebraska Limits State Bar Lobbying

Article here. Excerpt:

'The Nebraska Supreme Court prohibits Nebraska State Bar Association from using mandatory dues for anything other than regulation of the legal profession. Thus it may not use mandatory dues for lobbying. Regulation of the profession is defined as:

• admitting qualified applicants to membership in the Bar Association,
• maintaining the records of membership,
• enforcing the ethical rules governing the Bar Association’s members,
• regulating the mandate of con­tinuing legal education,
• maintaining records of trust fund requirements for lawyers, and
• pursuing those who engage in the unauthorized practice of law.

The move to limit the Nebraska State Bar Association’s ability to use dues for lobbying started with Senator Scott Lautenbaugh, Esq., who sued the Nebraska State Bar Association in federal court last October alleging violations of the United States Constitution and federal civil rights laws. Mr. Lautenbaugh believes, because he is required to be a member of the State Bar Association, the use of his dues for political and ideological purposes constitutes government-compelled speech and violates his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The lawsuit sought to have the Nebraska State Bar Association's lobbying and dues procedures declared unconstitutional.'