News

When the Commission on Judicial Appointments meets on March 22 to consider the appointment of Justice Patricia Guerrero to the California Supreme Court, they will rely on the quiet and thorough work behind the scenes of an important body supported by the State Bar: the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE). The JNE Commission confidentially evaluates all candidates under consideration or nominated for a judicial appointment by the Governor. In 2021, the JNE Commission completed evaluations of 138 judicial candidates.

The State Bar of California’s Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona announced today that since September 2021, his office has been conducting an investigation of John Charles Eastman (State Bar No. 193726), a California licensed attorney.

At its meeting on February 25, the State Bar Board of Trustees approved changes to the makeup and charter of the Closing the Justice Gap Working Group, responding to concerns raised by Legislative partners and other stakeholders.

The State Bar announced today that it is taking urgent action to address a breach of confidential attorney discipline case data that it discovered on February 24.

The State Bar has seized the practice of Anthony David Urbano, a Sacramento man recently released from parole who engaged in the unauthorized practice of law under the business name “Jailhouse Lawyer 360,” announced George Cardona, the State Bar Chief Trial Counsel, today. 

Vanessa Holton, the General Counsel for the State Bar of California, has announced her retirement after nearly seven years with the State Bar and a stellar legal career that has spanned almost four decades.

The State Bar of California's Board of Trustees announced today that it has been conducting an additional investigation into whether the State Bar's handling of past discipline complaints against former licensee Thomas V. Girardi was affected by Girardi’s connections to or influence at the State Bar.The investigation is intended to identify actions by anyone with ties to the State Bar that may constitute malfeasance in how discipline complaints against Girardi were handled.  

At its meeting January 20 and 21, the State Bar Board of Trustees began work on the State Bar’s next five-year strategic plan, which is expected to continue at a February meeting and be finalized at the Board’s March meeting.

The State Bar of California has seized an unauthorized law practice that operated as National Family Solutions, announced George Cardona, Chief Trial Counsel. The firm, owned by Eric Campbell and Anita Youabian, had offices in Goleta, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara.

At its meeting November 18, the State Bar Board of Trustees approved creation of a new, comprehensive Client Trust Account (CTA) protection program and other corrective actions to strengthen the State Bar’s oversight and regulation of client trust accounts.

The State Bar has seized the practice of an individual who repeatedly and illegally misrepresented himself as an attorney to obtain thousands of dollars from unsuspecting Los Angeles clients, Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona announced Friday. Efferin Deans of Lake Balboa has no fewer than 22 aliases and is not authorized to practice law in California

Following her appointment last month by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Board of Parole Hearings, State Bar Court Presiding Judge Catherine Purcell’s final day was Friday, November 12, announced Michelle Cramton, Clerk of the State Bar Court.

Today the State Bar released results of the July 2021 California Bar Exam and announced that 3,995 people (53.0 percent of applicants) passed the General Bar Exam. If those who passed satisfy all other requirements for admission, they will be eligible to be licensed by the State Bar to practice law in California.

The State Bar has seized a business based in the city of Orange that was operating as SoCal Latino Legal Services and Ortega Legal Services. The business deliberately misled hundreds of people, predominantly Spanish speakers seeking help with family law cases, criminal cases, evictions, civil rights, medical negligence, and auto accidents. The primary owner, Erika Ortega, claimed she provided legal services in these areas, even though she has never been licensed to practice law in California. 

The State Bar announced it has largely concluded data-gathering on the technological issues experienced by a limited number of examinees during the July California Bar Exam.

Today Associate Justice Joshua P. Groban of the California Supreme Court swore in Ruben Duran as Chair of the State Bar Board of Trustees and Brandon Stallings as Vice-Chair at the Board’s first meeting of the 2021-2022 Board year.