Report 2020-030 Recommendation Responses
Report 2020-030: The State Bar of California: It Is Not Effectively Managing Its System for Investigating and Disciplining Attorneys Who Abuse the Public Trust (Release Date: April 2021)
Recommendation for Legislative Action
To clarify state law and provide more transparency regarding the nature of the existing backlog of discipline cases, the Legislature should revise Business and Professions Code section 6086.15, subdivision (a)(1), to require the State Bar to include in its discipline report the number of complicated matters as of the end of the reporting period that were pending beyond 12 months after receipt without dismissal, admonition, or the filing of formal charges by the trial counsel's office.
Description of Legislative Action
SB 211 (Chapter 723, Statutes of 2021) revises the goal and policy of the State Bar as it relates to complaints alleging attorney misconduct and requires, among other things, the State Bar to propose, no later than October 31, 2022, case processing standards for competently, accurately, and timely resolving cases within the trial counsel's office, and requires the State Bar to include in its discipline report a description of its success in meeting these case processing goals.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: October 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Enacted
Description of Legislative Action
As of June 29, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: June 2021