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About the Court

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.

The State Bar Court cannot give legal advice or provide attorney referrals. If you need an attorney referral, please use the Lawyer Referral Service on the State Bar's website.

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 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.

The State Bar Court conducts hearings and makes decisions and formal recommendations on disciplinary matters.

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.

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 appoint one hearing judge each.

State Bar Court Hearing Judges hear and make recommendations to the Supreme Court about:

• California attorneys who have allegedly violated the State Bar Act and/or the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Regulatory proceedings, such as moral character admissions matters, reinstatement petitions, arbitration enforcement proceedings, etc., that are filed in the State Bar Court.

The Review Department is the appellate level of the State Bar Court, consisting of the presiding judge and two other review judges. All review judges are appointed by the Supreme Court.

State Bar Court Review Judges:

• 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.
• Exercise temporary suspension and other powers delegated to the State Bar Court by the Supreme Court according to rule 9.10, California Rules of Court.
• Conduct discretionary interlocutory review on issues materially affecting the outcome of Hearing Department cases.