The Constitutional Court has ruled that the Colegio de Abogados, the professional association for lawyers in the Dominican Republic, violates the Constitution. With Ruling TC/0274/13 dated 26 December 2013, it has ordered Congress to revise the law that created the college. The recourse for review by the Constitutional Court was submitted by lawyer Manuel Ramon Tapia Lopez.
The Constitutional Court argues that the bill was irregularly approved at the time as legislators voted on it in three consecutive readings, which was in violation to the Constitution of the time.
The Law 91 dated 1983 establishes that membership in the professional association is required in order to practice law in the Dominican Republic.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2014/01/17/declara-inconstitucional-ley-sobre-colegio-abogados
www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/sites/default/files/documentos/Sentencia%20TC%200274-13%20C.pdf