The French Academy is looked down on as being conservative almost to the point of absurdity by just about every linguist I've read on the topic.

ETA: I just skimmed through the Wikipedia article on the topic, which gives this:

although most academicians are writers, one need not be a member of the literary profession to become a member. The Académie has included numerous politicians, lawyers, scientists, historians, philosophers, and senior Roman Catholic clergymen.

Not a linguist mentioned.