Jonathan Kantrowitz

He’s completely lost me now –

Daniela Altimari has the story on The Capitol Watch Courant blog:

According to Judicial Branch records, Alpert is “administratively suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-79(a) for non-payment of the client security fund fee due June 15, 2008,” branch spokeswoman Rhonda Stearley-Hebert said in an email.

The order of administrative suspension took effect on June 16, 2009, she added.

Alpert seems to think non-payment is appropriate because he doesn’t practice law, but it’s not. I don’t practice law either, but I’m required to pay:

An attorney is not exempt from the fee because he or she practices out of state, or because he or she does not actively practice law. Only those attorneys who have retired, resigned, who have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of more than six months during the calendar year, or who have been disbarred, are exempt from payment of the fee. Attorneys have “retired” only if they have complied with the provisions of Practice Book Section 2-55 and Section 51-81b(g) of the Connecticut General Statutes. (Attorney Retirement Notice – Form JD-CL-68). A partial, fifty percent exemption is available to attorneys who do not engage in the practice of law as an occupation and have not earned and do not expect to earn more than $450.00 in legal fees or other compensation for services involving the practice of law during the calendar year. Please note that if you engage in the practice of law as an occupation outside of Connecticut, you do not qualify for the partial exemption. If being an attorney is a factor in an individual’s employment, such attorney is deemed engaged in the practice of law as an occupation for purposes of the partial exemption and does not qualify for the partial exemption. An attorney claiming a partial exemption must complete an exemption claim form and submit the form with their payment. (Claim of Exemption, Client Security Fund Fee – Form JD-GC-14E)

So what should Mr. Alpert do?

What should I do if my license to practice law has been administratively suspended for non-payment of the annual client security fund fee pursuant to Practice Book Sections 2-70 and 2-79(a)?

Practice Book Sections 2-70 and 2-79(a) provide that the license to practice law of an attorney who fails to pay the annual client security fund fee may be administratively suspended until such time as the fee is paid. If your license to practice law has been administratively suspended for non-payment of the annual client security fund fee, you should contact the office of the Client Security Fund Committee to obtain information about the amount of the past due fee or fees owed. Payment may be made online by attorneys registered with the Judicial Branch for access to E-Services at www.jud.ct.gov, or a check or money order in the amount of the past due fees should be sent to Client Security Fund, P.O. Box 1379, Hartford, Connecticut 06143-1379. Your juris number should be included on the check or money order. Upon receipt of a check or money order in the correct amount, or payment online, you will be reinstated. For additional information, the office of the Client Security Fund Committee may be contacted by e-mail at Security.Fund@jud.ct.gov, or by telephone at (860)-568-3450.

He should pay the fees he owes and retire from practicing law and running for office.