Public hearings on bar governance scheduled for January

A task force created to consider how the State Bar should be governed will hold two public hearings this month in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The first will be Jan. 20 at the State Bar’s Los Angeles office and the second will be Jan. 27 at the bar’s San Francisco headquarters. Both hearings will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, the board of governors last month e-mailed eight questions under consideration by the task force to 20,000 California lawyers randomly selected by computer. The task force also urges bar members and the public to complete the survey.

Individuals wishing to submit testimony or speak at the hearings should contact Amy Anderson, Office of the General Counsel, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105 or amy.anderson@calbar.ca.gov. Priority to speak at the public hearings will be given to those who have submitted written responses to the eight questions no later than Jan. 10. All written responses are due by Feb. 1, will become public and will be posted on the bar’s website.

Speakers do not need to register in advance, but those who do so will receive priority. For any other questions, please contact Starr Babcock at 414-538-2070 or starr.babcock@calbar.ca.gov.

Included in the bar’s 2011 fee bill was a requirement to convene a governance task force that is to come up with recommendations for enhancing public protection. The group is considering revisions to the appointment method and composition of the board of governors, including the ratio of public and lawyer members and whether they are elected or appointed and by whom. 

The task force is required to submit a report to the legislature by May 15.