Florida Bar

The Florida Legislative Investigation Committee was set up by Chapter 31498 of the Laws of Florida (1955) to investigate, as time permits, "all organizations whose principles or activities include a course of conduct on the part of any person or group which would constitute violence or a violation of the laws of the State, or would be inimical to the well-being and orderly pursuits of their personal and business activities by the majority of the citizens of this state." In this instance, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was under scrutiny. The committee made a report to the Florida Bar on December 27, 1958 in which they rendered their opinion as to what actions, if any, should be taken in regard to the method of operation of the NAACP and its Florida counsel. Under consideration was the possible professional misconduct of Alexander Akerman, Jr. of Washington, D.C.; Horace E. Hill of Daytona Beach, Florida; Grattan E. Graves, Jr. of Miami, Florida; and Francisco A. Rodriguez and William Andrew Fordham, both of Tampa, Florida; all of whom were working for the NAACP.

The underlying question involved whether a lawyer employed by an association to render legal services in matters concerning the organization as a whole may also represent individuals who are involved in matters which the organization wishes to preserve or further. Furthermore, the NAACP had been charged with willfully instigating or appearing in lawsuits, soliciting law suits, or soliciting others to file law suits, and hiring or paying a litigant to bring, maintain or prosecute a law suit. The above named lawyers were allegedly involved in some or all of these activities.