HONOLULU -- The Hawaii State Bar Association has received complaints about an e-mail sent by a local attorney looking for plaintiffs in another lawsuit against Kamehameha Schools Hawaiians-only admissions policy.

Attorney David Rosen sent an e-mail to another attorney and the head of a nonprofit group looking for several plaintiffs for a potential lawsuit. That e-mail was forwarded.

Professional ethics codes prohibit attorneys from soliciting clients through e-mail.

The Hawaii Bar Association's president said he put the e-mail issue on the agenda for Thursday's regularly scheduled meeting.

"My personal view on client solicitation and although I'm big free speech guy and lawyers should have the right to advertise. There is a line one can cross and I am not a fan of direct solicitation of clients," Hawaii State Bar Association President Jeff Portnoy said.

Rosen said he did not act unethically and that he did not ask or intend for his e-mail to be forwarded.