Society president John Marshall QC , of Wellington, confirmed yesterday that the society's board had made that decision at a meeting last week.
He did not wish to make further comment.
Nor did Mr Guest, a former district court judge who was ordered to be struck off in 2001 on two counts of professional misconduct involving lying to a client when he told her she had been declined legal aid and taking $25,000 more of her funds for his costs than he was entitled to.
The board's decision follows a recommendation from the council of the Otago branch of the society recommending it oppose the application.
A provisional date for hearing Mr Guest's application, the first before the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal, has been set for July 28 to 31 in the High Court at Dunedin.
Judge Dale Clarkson will chair the tribunal, which will include four other members.
