MAX C. DERTKE ENDS THREE-YEAR TERM ON THE FLORIDA BAR’S GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE

September 8, 2005

TALLAHASSEE — Max C. Dertke recently completed a three-year term as a public member of the 13th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee "F." His term ended on August 9, 2005.

"Serving on the Grievance Committee in Hillsborough County has been most interesting and rewarding," Dertke said. "I became and remain very impressed with the quality and amount of work expended by The Florida Bar's staff and its members to respond to grievances and to maintain the high standards of their profession."

Dertke is a retired Dean Emeritus of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida. He currently volunteers time with the Department of Mental Health, Law and Policy area and the Institutional Research Board [IRM-2], both at the University of South Florida.


About the Grievance Committee: The Grievance Committee reviews complaints with much the same purpose as a grand jury. That is, the committee decides whether there is probable cause to believe a lawyer violated the professional conduct rules imposed by the Supreme Court of Florida and whether discipline against the lawyer appears to be warranted. There is no right to appeal "no probable cause" determinations by grievance committees. Each grievance committee shall be appointed by the board and shall consist of not fewer than three (3) members. At least one-third of the committee members shall be nonlawyers. All appointees shall be of legal age and, except for special grievance committees, shall be residents of the circuit or have their principal office in the circuit. The lawyer members of the committee shall have been members of The Florida Bar for at least five (5) years.

About The Florida Bar: The Florida Bar is the statewide professional and regulatory organization for lawyers. With more than 75,000 members, the Bar serves as an intermediary for attorneys, the courts and the public. Headquartered in Tallahassee, the Bar is a unified state bar by rule of the Supreme Court of Florida. Membership in The Florida Bar is a necessary component of Supreme Court regulation for all lawyers licensed to practice law in Florida. The foundation for the organization is built on a philosophy of equity and ethics. Through its programs and services, the Bar supports this philosophy with four pillars that function as the mission of The Florida Bar: providing public service, protecting rights, promoting professionalism and pursuing justice. For further information, visit the Bar's new bilingual, online media center at www.FloridaBar.org where you'll find breaking news, downloadable images, upcoming events and much more.

CONTACT: D’Najah Pendergrass/The Florida Bar
www.FloridaBar.org
DATE: September 8, 2005
PHONE: 850/561-5671