The State Bar’s discipline system is designed to protect the public, the courts and the profession from attorneys who violate ethical rules covering their professional conduct.
The State Bar of California is the only state bar in the nation with independent professional judges dedicated to ruling on attorney discipline cases. The independent State Bar Court hears the charges and has the power to recommend that the California Supreme Court suspend or disbar those attorneys found to have committed acts of professional misconduct or convicted of serious crimes. For lesser offenses, it may issue public or private reprovals.