A meeting of the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California convened at 11:05 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, in closed session in the Compagno room at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento, California, Larry Sheingold, Chair, presiding. Officers and members present were: Larry Sheingold, Chair; Patricia P. White, Vice-Chair; James H. Aguirre, Eduardo A. Angeles, Traci C. Belmore, Michelle Domingo, Richard A. Frankel, KV Kumar, Sandra Mendoza, Joel S. Miliband, Martha Pruden-Hamiter, Sandra L. Salazar, M.D., Jeanne C. Vanderhoff, Lee H. Wallach, and Alan S. Yochelson, Members. Member Archie “Joe” Biggers was absent. Board of Trustees Vice-President and liaison to the Committee Craig Holden and Board of Trustees Treasurer and Regulation, Admissions and Discipline Oversight Chair Heather Rosing were present. State Bar staff members in attendance were Gayle E. Murphy, Senior Director, Admissions, Debra Murphy Lawson, Director for Moral Character Determinations, George C. Leal, Director for Educational Standards, Lisa Jeong Cummins, Director for Examinations, Greg Shin, Director for Operations and Management, Kim Wong, Administrative Specialist, Rachel S. Grunberg, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Natalie Leonard, Director for Legal Specialization, Resty Buenavidez, Senior Director, Information Technology, and William Walker, Director, Projector Management. At approximately 1:00 p.m., the meeting went into open session, at which time psychometric consultant Chad Buckendahl and Dean Greg Brandes joined the meeting. This session of the Committee’s meeting concluded at 2:30 p.m., at which time the Committee’s subcommittees met. The meeting was reconvened into open session at 9:05 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014. All Committee and staff members in attendance on Friday were present on Saturday, except Committee Member Sandra Mendoza. Also in attendance were Larry Doyle and John Holtz. At approximately 10:45 a.m., the meeting went into closed session at which time, the guests left the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the minutes taken during the public session of the meeting on Dec. 6 and 7, 2013, be approved.
Committee Planning Session – Presentation From Psychometrician On Examination Validity, Reliability And Fairness It was by common consent agreed that the committee’s appreciation be extended to psychometric consultant Chad Buckendahl, Ph.D., for his presentation on examination validity, reliability and fairness. Report on “Key Factors to Consider When Engaging in a Development or Redevelopment Process for Examinations (California’s Two-Day Bar Examination Proposal)” It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the report entitled “Key Factors to Consider When Engaging in a Development or Redevelopment Process for Examinations (California’s Two-Day Bar Examination Proposal)” dated July 15, 2013, which was prepared by Chad W. Buckendahl, Ph.D., be authorized for publication. November/December 2013 Key Indicators It was by common consent agreed that the November and December 2013 Key Indicators for the Office of Admissions/Committee of Bar Examiners be received and filed. Schedule for March 14, 2014 Committee Meeting It was by common consent agreed that the schedule for the March 14, 2014 Committee Meeting, which will be held at The State Bar of California Offices in San Francisco, California, be received and filed.
Tentative Date for Conference Call Meeting It was by common consent agreed that a conference call meeting of the Subcommittee on Examinations be scheduled tentatively for noon on Feb. 3 and 14, 2014 to consider testing accommodation appeals filed in connection with administration of the February 2014 California Bar Examination. Format of the First-Year Law Students’ Examination It was by common consent agreed that the concept of restructuring the format of the First-Year Law Students’ Examination to an all multiple-choice examination be further developed and a proposal from staff be placed on a future agenda for consideration by the Committee. 2013 – 2014 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the 2013 – 2014 goals for the Subcommittee on Examinations be received and filed.
Nov. 30, 2013 Financial Analysis Report It was by common consent agreed that the Financial Analysis Report as of November 30, 2013, for the Admissions Fund, be received and filed. 2014 Office of Admissions Budget It was by common consent agreed that Senior Director for Admissions Gayle Murphy’s report on the 2014 Office of Admissions budget adopted by the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees during its January 2014 meeting be received and that in conformance with the assumptions in that budget, staff be directed to prepare a proposal regarding adjustments to admissions fees for consideration by the Committee during either its March or April 2014 meeting. 2013 – 2014 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the 2013 – 2014 goals for the Subcommittee on Operations and Management be received and filed.
Notice of Change of Name of Corporate Ownership Re Concord Law School It was by common consent agreed that the notice from Acting Associate Dean of Concord Law School Kiyoko Tatsui of the change in the name of the corporation that owns and operates the law school and its affiliated university, be received and filed. California Desert Trial Academy College – Major Change Request It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the Request for Approval of a Major Change submitted by the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law, pursuant to Rule 4.245 of the Unaccredited Law School Rules, regarding the now-completed relocation of its classroom facility, be received and filed; that, although not filed timely as required by the Rules, the request be granted retroactively to the date of the move; and that the law school be advised that all future actions that comprise a major change, as defined in Rule 4.246, be carried out in accordance with Rule 4.245. Larry H. Layton School of Law Response to Periodic Inspection Report Recommendations It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the response of the Larry H. Layton School of Law, which provided evidence of the law school’s actions to address the recommendations set forth in the September 12, 2013 Inspection Report, be received and filed; that the law school’s written request for a waiver of Guideline 6.4, which would permit the school to store a portion of its mandatory hardbound law library at the personal residence of Dean Larry H. Layton, be granted; and that registration of the law school be continued, subject to an interim inspection of the law school to be scheduled to take place within the next 90-120 days. University of Honolulu School of Law – Report of Periodic Inspection It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the Periodic Inspection Report of the inspection performed at the University of Honolulu School of Law (UHSOL) on Oct. 18, 2013 by John Trunick, Educational Standards Consultant be received and filed; that the response dated Jan. 17, 2014 received from UHSOL Dean Ben Ramos and its Executive Director Genie de Freitas be received and filed; that a follow-up, interim inspection of UHSOL take place within the next 60 days; and that a report of that inspection be submitted to the Committee for its further consideration and action at its meeting scheduled for April 25 and 26, 2014. 2013 – 2014 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the 2013 – 2014 goals for the Subcommittee on Educational Standards be received and filed.
2013 – 2014 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the 2013 – 2014 goals for the Subcommittee on Moral Character be received and filed. Adjournment Having concluded all the business scheduled for consideration during the open and closed sessions of the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014.