In the fall of 1873, an association was formed in the City of South Bend under the name and style of the St. Joseph County Bar Association. The first meeting was held on October 8, 1873, in the courtroom. Seventeen individuals bought shares in the Association for $25.00 each for the purpose of procuring a library and meeting the expenses of the Association.

At that meeting, Alvin S. Dunbar was chosen President and Lucius Hubbard, Secretary. The Directors were A.S. Dunbar, Andrew Anderson, William G. George, H.E. Hurlbut, Joseph Henderson, Joseph B. Arnold, Jr., and Lucius Hubbard. The purpose of the Association was stated to be to further the practice of law and for the maintenance of a library to be kept in the County Courthouse. The Association did purchase and control the library and books, and the members pledged for their proper care and return.

By 1875, the Association had under its control $4,500.00 worth of books, $1,315.00 of which it had expended from its own resources, the balance being the amount that had been loaned to the Association for the use by individual members. Today, the Library is owned by the County, but maintained and managed by the Bar Association. It now has a very substantial number of legal books and treatises. The Bar has expended thousands of dollars annually to assist in its maintenance and upkeep. In addition, the Library is available not only to all attorneys, but also to the Judiciary and the general public, fulfilling a worthy need.

In addition to maintaining the Library, The Bar has been very militant in formulating rules of ethical conduct for its members and policing the rules. Until recent times, grievances or disbarment proceedings were instigated by the local County Prosecutor. The Bar Association would assist in bringing disbarment procedures against members, usually with some member of the Association acting as Special Counsel. Recently, the Supreme Court, through one of its committees, has taken over this duty. Throughout the years, the local Bar maintained high standards of conduct by formulating rules and procedures which were usually adopted by surrounding counties.

Although a new President was usually elected every year, with few ever serving two terms, continuity was maintained through the Treasurer position. For example, John Degnan served as Secretary-Treasurer from prior to World War II until 1952, when Alexis T. Cholis succeeded him in that position. Mr. Cholis served for twenty-three years, resigning in 1975. He, in turn, was succeeded by Robert Parker, who resigned in 2002. Mr. Parker has since been succeeded by Mitchell R. Heppenheimer, who currently serves.

The Bar Association has always been conscious of the need to help the general public, especially the indigent, in legal matters. In line with this, it was the motivating force to establish the local Legal Aid Program, which subsequently was absorbed by the Federal Government. The Legal Aid Society, however, calls upon and gets support from local lawyers serving Pro Bono Publico.

In addition, the Association has set up and still operates a Lawyerl Referral Service to assist members of the general public to procure Counsel when they have no specific attorney. The Association is also committed to community education through its Law Week activities and other programs.

The St. Joseph County Bar Association is indeed proud of its record of the past 126 years in furthering the cause of justice and being of assistance to the community.

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