1. To interrupt; postpone; defer (the fire alarm suspended the prosecutor’s opening statement).
2. To temporarily keep (a person) from performing a function, occupying an office, holding a job, or exercising a right or privilege (the attorney’s law license was suspended for violating the Model Rules of Professional Conduct). [Cases: Licenses 38; Officers and Public Employees 65. C.J.S. Agriculture §§ 4.5; Architects§ 10; Licenses §§ 48, 50–63; Officers and Public Employees §§ 139, 141–142.]
suspend the rules. Parliamentary law. To pass a motion that overrides an agenda or other procedural rule, for a limited time and purpose, so that the deliberative assembly may take some otherwise obstructed action.
“When a body wishes to do something that cannot be done without violating its own rules, but yet that is not in conflict with the constitution or with any controlling statutory provision, it ‘suspends the rules that interfere with’ the proposed action. Suspension differs from amendment because it is limited in scope and in time. The object of the suspension must be specified, and nothing falling outside the stated limits of the motion to suspend the rules can be done under the suspension.” National Conference of State Legislatures, Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure § 279, at 211 (2000).
