Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Court and the State Bar Rules Regarding the Procedure Upon Suspension for Nonpayment

The State Bar is seeking public comment on proposed Amendments to the Rules of Court and the State Bar Rules Regarding the Procedure Upon Suspension for Nonpayment of annual licensing fees and court-ordered child and family support.

Deadline: January 8, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (45 days)

Direct comments to

Comments should be submitted using the online Public Comment Form. The online form allows you to input your comments directly.

Background

The payment of annual licensing fees and payment of court-ordered child and family support are the only licensee requirements which the Supreme Court orders suspension or inactive enrollment for failure to comply. Suspension or inactive enrollment for all other regulatory requirements is imposed by the State Bar. Amending Rule of Court 9.8 and State Bar Rule 2.33 will allow the State Bar to suspend licensees for nonpayment of annual licensing fees without an order from the Supreme Court. Amending Rule of Court 9.22 and State Bar Rule 2.24 will allow the State Bar to suspend and reinstate licensees for nonpayment of court-ordered child and family support without an order from the Supreme Court.

Discussion/proposal

The proposed amendments to the Rules of Court and State Bar Rules would remove the necessity of Supreme Court action (which is time-consuming for both State Bar staff and the Court) for administrative suspensions based on clear criteria with respect to license fee or child-support nonpayment—similar to these other instances in which the State Bar now enrolls licensees as involuntarily inactive without the Court’s involvement. In all events, licensees are authorized to seek Supreme Court review if they contend that they were wrongfully administratively suspended or made inactive.

Any fiscal/personnel impact

The proposed rule amendments would result in savings of staff time.

Background material
Source

Board of Trustees

Deadline

January 8, 2026, 11:59 p.m.

Direct comments to

Comments should be submitted using the online Public Comment Form. The online form allows you to input your comments directly.