The State Bar has published its digital annual report for 2021 spotlighting the agency’s accomplishments in a year that brought new leadership and progress on numerous initiatives furthering the agency’s public protection mission.

The State Bar of California and the Bankruptcy Trustee for the estate of Girardi Keese today filed a proposed stipulation agreement in federal court, which, if approved, will enable the State Bar to access critical records from the Trustee related to the State Bar’s ongoing investigation of its past handling of complaints against former licensee Thomas V. Girardi.

Today the State Bar announced that 1,056 people (33.9 percent of applicants) passed the February 2022 California General Bar Exam—the first in-person exam since February 2020.

The State Bar of California issued the following statement in response to the California State Auditor’s report today: “Strengthening the discipline system is our number one priority, and we are committed to incorporating the audit findings into our ongoing efforts,” said Ruben Duran, Board Chair. “As noted in our formal response, the Board found some of the audit findings profoundly troubling. At the same time as we work to oversee the implementation of the specific audit recommendations, we will begin a comprehensive review of oversight and governance policies related to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC).”

Fake legal firm websites, stolen attorney identities, phony clients with debt cases that resolve miraculously fast: these are all tactics used by scammers to steal money from the public and attorneys alike.

The State Bar of California has shut down the unauthorized law practice of Robert Juarez and his Pomona business, Recourse Legal Document Assistants, Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona announced today. Juarez is not, nor has he ever been, a licensed attorney, yet he repeatedly charged people for dispensing legal advice and advertised and presented himself as someone entitled to practice law to the dissatisfaction of unsuspecting clients.

At its March 24-25 meeting, the State Bar Board of Trustees set the organization’s direction for the next five years by adopting a strategic plan for 2022-2027.

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.