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Governance Task Force holds second public hearing

Contact: Laura Ernde

415-538-2283

barcomm@calbar.ca.gov

SAN FRANCISCO, April 4, 2016 — The State Bar of California’s Governance in the Public Interest Task Force held its second of three public hearings today on the organization’s structure.

The task force heard testimony from a dozen people. Speakers included a former executive director, a bar association leader and a business leader who touted the benefits of the unified bar structure in place since 1927. In addition, the panel heard from two task force members who proposed moving the bar’s trade association functions into a new private, nonprofit California Bar Association.

Under the restructuring proposal offered by Board of Trustees members Dennis Mangers and Joanna Mendoza, the State Bar’s regulatory functions – including attorney admissions and discipline – would remain with the bar and be overseen by a 13-member board made up of seven non-lawyers and six lawyers who are appointed rather than elected. It would be up to the State Bar to work out the details for implementation in January 2019.

"The task force looks forward to seriously considering this and all other input as part of its important work,” State Bar President David J. Pasternak said. “There are many things to consider when reviewing these kinds of structural changes. For example, it's unclear what impact this proposal would have on the State Bar's mission of public protection and long-standing advocacy for increased legal services and access to justice."

Notes and transcripts from the task force meetings are being posted on the task force web page. The final public hearing will take place April 25 at 845 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, followed by working meetings for a report to the Board of Trustees in mid-2016. The task force consists of Pasternak as chair, board of trustees attorney members Miriam Krinsky, Jason Lee, Mendoza and Danette Meyers and public members Mangers and Gwen Moore.

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.