Governance Task Force holds third public hearing Tuesday, April 26, 2016 Categories: News Releases Contact: Laura Ernde 415-538-2283 barcomm@calbar.ca.gov LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2016 — The State Bar of California’s Governance in the Public Interest Task Force held its final public hearing Monday on the organization’s structure and will continue to take written comments for a report to be issued in July. The task force heard testimony from more than a dozen people Monday. Speakers included a law professor who has extensively studied the history of unified bar organizations, the executive director of the Nebraska State Bar Association – which was de-unified by its Supreme Court in 2013 – and Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer. Notes and transcripts from the task force meetings are being posted on the task force web page. The task force will take written testimony through the end of the month and hold two working meetings for a report to the Board of Trustees in mid-2016. The task force consists of State Bar President David Pasternak as chair, board of trustees attorney members Miriam Krinsky, Jason Lee, Joanna Mendoza and Danette Meyers and public members Dennis Mangers and Gwen Moore. “I’d like to thank all those who have given us their input as we grapple with this extremely complex and important task,” Pasternak said. The task force follows a similar task force created in 2011. That year, Business and Professions Code section 6001.2 required the creation of a Governance in the Public Interest Task Force, charged with improving the public protection function of the State Bar. The work of that task force led to the passage of SB 163, which reduced the size of the board to 19 members and changed the composition. In 2012, Business and Professions Code section 6001.2 was amended to require that the State Bar reconstitute a Governance in the Public Interest Task Force periodically to make recommendations for enhancing public protection and ensuring that protection of the public is the highest priority in the licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys. Previous Article Next Article