News Releases

Governance Task Force meetings set

Contact: Laura Ernde

415-538-2283

barcomm@calbar.ca.gov

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19, 2016 — The State Bar of California’s Governance in the Public Interest Task Force will meet Thursday, Feb. 25, in San Francisco, to learn about how other State Bars and regulatory agencies are organized and governed. 

Public comment is welcome at the meeting, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the State Bar’s offices at 180 Howard St., San Francisco. 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. The task force will hold two public hearings – April 4 in San Francisco and April 25 in Los Angeles. Two additional working meetings will be scheduled before the task force issues a report to the Board of Trustees by mid-2016.

“In this session we’ll look broadly at the way in which other unified bars and other regulatory bodies function, which will create context for our ongoing examination of whether our current structure best serves our important public protection mission,” Executive Director Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker said. “California has long been considered a national leader in the attorney discipline arena. Even so, we can learn from our counterparts by taking a deep and broad look at our counterparts.” 

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.