‘Not a Public Entity’: The Bar Says Disability Law Doesn’t Apply to It

I write in response to your email and attached correspondence directed to Mr. . I am responding on behalf of the State Bar of Georgia concerning the issues you characterize as relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The State Bar of Georgia is not a public entity, such as a federal, state or local government department or agency. The State Bar receives no federal, state, or local governmental funding. Its assets are owned by the State Bar of Georgia itself and not by the State of Georgia. Although the State Bar serves as an administrative arm of the Supreme Court of Georgia pursuant to the Court’s authority over the regulation of the legal profession, it nevertheless remains a private, member-funded, and member-governed organization. The State Bar of Georgia is not a department or agency of the State of Georgia, therefore we are not required to have a published ADA Coordinator.

Notwithstanding, the State Bar of Georgia has made efforts to accommodate your needs.

Your submissions were initially misclassified as supplemental correspondence rather than as timely rebuttals to Mr. ‘s response. That administrative error has been corrected, and all of your submissions are now included in the grievance file.

At this time, it does not appear that you require assistance in preparing written submissions or in understanding or responding to correspondence from the State Bar. Your communications have been detailed, articulate, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of both legal standards and the Bar’s grievance procedures.

Your invocation of the ADA process may be directed less toward obtaining accommodation for a functional limitation and more toward securing a particular substantive outcome in the grievance and reconsideration process, or toward establishing a basis for further legal action against the State Bar.

You are welcome to continue to correspond with Mr. regarding any specific, good-faith requests for accommodation. However, please understand that the ADA accommodation process is not a mechanism for directing the Bar’s internal review process or for dictating the terms, timeline, or outcome of the reconsideration.