The State Bar Court has the authority to recommend that the California Supreme Court suspend or disbar attorneys found to have committed acts of professional misconduct or to have been convicted of serious crimes. For lesser offenses, the State Bar Court can issue public or private reprovals.
The Hearing Department is the trial level of the State Bar Court. Five full-time judicial positions are split between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Supreme Court appoints two of the hearing judges, while the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules appoints one hearing judge each.
Since 1989, the court has used full-time judges appointed by the California Supreme Court, the Legislature, and the governor. The court is divided into two departments: a Hearing Department and a Review Department, headed by a presiding judge.
Review and decide or make recommendations to the Supreme Court on cases in which one or both of the parties have sought review of a hearing judge's decision.
The Review Department is the appellate level ...
California is the only state with an independent professional Court dedicated to ruling on attorney discipline cases. The State Bar Court hears charges filed by the State Bar's Office of Chief Trial Counsel against attorneys whose actions allegedly involve misconduct.
For lesser offenses, the State Bar Court can issue public or private reprovals. The State Bar Court also can temporarily remove lawyers from practice when they are deemed to pose a substantial threat of harm to clients or the public. Lawyers may seek review of State Bar Court decisions in the California Supreme Court.
To search for a case, please copy the case number displayed above and click Search for a Case. In the search box, paste the complete case number. If the case number begins with “19” or higher, you must add the prefix SBC to the case number, e.g., SBC [CASE NUMBER]. If a case number begins with 18 or lower, there’s no need to add SBC.
DISCLAIMER: Any posted Notice of Disciplinary Charges, Conviction Transmittal or other initiating document, contains only allegations of professional misconduct. The licensee is presumed to be innocent of any misconduct warranting discipline until the charges have been proven.