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The State Bar of California names Antonia Darling as new Chief Court Counsel to administer attorney discipline court

The State Bar of California has named a new Chief Court Counsel to lead the State Bar Court of California in its ongoing effort to protect the public by disciplining attorneys who violate professional conduct and ethics rules.

The State Bar named Antonia Darling the Chief Court Counsel/Court Administrator to fill the independent Court's top management and legal counselor position.

"I'm thrilled to announce the appointment of Antonia Darling and to welcome a strong leader from an important federal watchdog agency to the State Bar. She brings an extensive background in public service and in public protection," said Leah Wilson, Executive Director of the State Bar of California.

Darling was admitted to the State Bar in 1977 and attended Golden Gate University School of Law. She has worked for the United States Department of Justice with the Sacramento Division of the U.S. Trustee — a watchdog agency over all bankruptcy cases — for 27 years.

"I am proud to have been chosen to fill this post and excited about continuing my public service career back with the State Bar," said Darling, who is currently an assistant United States trustee. "Making sure that the state's lawyers are honest and protecting the public are key aspects of making sure our system of justice is fair and equitable." 

Darling started her legal career in the Office of Sections and Committees of the State Bar in San Francisco, then spent five years in the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel in Los Angeles before leaving to join the U.S. Attorney’s office in Louisiana as a white collar prosecutor in 1983. In 1990 she accepted the position of assistant United States trustee, heading the agency’s Sacramento office.

Darling is expected to step into the new role on Dec. 18, and will be based in the San Francisco office.  

About the State Bar Court's Chief Court Counsel

The Chief Court Counsel/Court Administrator, is a member of the State Bar’s Executive Management Team and serves as both the executive administrator responsible for State Bar Court operations and the senior legal advisor to the judges and staff counsel of the State Bar Court on matters pertaining to Court proceedings.

Darling will lead a staff of approximately 35 in the State Bar’s San Francisco and Los Angeles locations.

The Chief Court Counsel oversees planning, organizing and directing the administration of the State Bar Court. The position will also lead the legal staff and substantive legal work of the State Bar Court, and provides legal advice and counsel to the judges of the State Bar Court in fulfilling its adjudicative responsibilities.

The State Bar Court  

California is the only state in the nation with independent professional judges dedicated to ruling on attorney discipline cases.

The State Bar of California investigates complaints of attorney misconduct. If the State Bar determines that an attorney's actions involve probable misconduct, formal charges are filed with the State Bar Court by the Bar's prosecutors (Office of Chief Trial Counsel).

The independent State Bar Court hears the charges and has the power to recommend that the California Supreme Court suspend or disbar attorneys found to have committed acts of professional misconduct or convicted of serious crimes.

State Bar Attorney Discipline Resources for the Public

• File an attorney misconduct complaint with the State Bar
• Attorney Misconduct Complaint Line: 800-843-9053
• File a complaint against a non-attorney for the unauthorized practice of law
• What happens after you file a complaint?
• Apply for the Client Security Fund if you have lost money due to attorney misconduct