Gov. Schwarzenegger
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday announced his veto of Senate Bill 641, introduced by Senator Ellen Corbett (D) from San Leandro to authorize the State Bar of California to continue to collecting membership dues of $315 next year. [SB 641]
In his veto message, Governor Schwarzenegger referenced former Governor Pete Wilson’s 1997 veto of the State Bar dues bill citing the “the State Bar had become overly political, unresponsive to its membership and inefficient.” According to Arnold, “twelve years later, inefficiencies remain unaddressed and questions about the State Bar’s role in the evaluation of judicial nominees suggest that the State Bar’s political agenda continues.” [Read the full text of his veto message]
Obviously Governor Arnold hasn’t had time to cruise the EEBA. He should start here: Cal Bar 2008 Performance Review.
“Unresponsive to its membership?” The State Bar of California’s first priority is “Public Protection” at which it fails miserably. Egregious examples:
James Parsa, [E]squire of the Parsa Law Group
Parsa pled guilty to two counts of “Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with Person under 18 Years of Age” (California Penal Code § 261.5) on May 17, 2001 see: James Parsa | ADDED TO EEBA WATCH LIST. The State Bar just got around to temporarily suspending him on September 17, 2009— eight years, four months after the entry of his guilty plea. In the meantime, Parsa has allegedly bilked consumers, in financially dire straits, who in aggregate paid his firm tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of dollars to assist them to modify their home loans to avoid foreclosure.
Miles Frederick Ehrlich, Esquire, Marcia Hatch, Esquirette, et and al
Ehrlich is the former head of the Department of Justice’s white collar crime division’s San Francisco Office. In May 2005, a crime victim provided him the identities of several individuals (including Marcia Hatch, Esquirette) and a large law firm involved variously in narcotics trafficking, conspiracy to launder money, identity theft, theft of electronic information, fraud and bribery of judicial officials.
Ehrlich told the victim he’d get back to him. He didn’t. Instead, he quit his job with the D.O.J., established a private criminal defense law practice in Berkeley, California and began providing advice and counsel to Marcia Hatch (Gunderson Dettmer, San Mateo, CA) and at least one of her cohorts, against the victim’s interests, to enable them to evade justice.
The State Bar of California refused to investigate and summarily dismissed the complaint.
Attorney General Edmund “Jerry” Brown, who was copied on the victim’s State Bar complaint advised the victim to report the matter to law enforcement. Jerry is the State of California’s chief law enforcement officer. Nice wisecrack Jerry! Or maybe Jerry is too stupid to understand California’s laws apply to lawyers too. Or maybe Jerry is too corrupt to apply California’s laws to lawyers with big firm’s some of which contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to his campaigns.
Read the Victim’s complaint [here].
It’s Legal for Prosecutors to Take Victim’s Information and Advise Perpetrators to Evade Justice?
So it’s legal in California for prosecutors to take crime victim’s information and use that information to profit by advising the individuals victims identify to them as to how to evade prosecution? And further injure the victim? The State Bar of California thinks so.
Attorney General Brown must also think so because Marcia Hatch continues to practice law– she’s a “Partner” with Gunderson Dettmer. And Miles Ehrlich appears to have a thriving legal practice at his firm Ramsey-Ehrlich.
So what are California crime victims supposed to do? Take the law into their own hands? Seems like that’s their only remedy.
Do California Assemblymen and Senators Understand the State Bar of California Does Not Protect the Public?
Only one State politician voted against SB 641, Republican, 77th District Assemblyman Joel Anderson of El Cajon. Everyone else apparently believes the State Bar of California is doing a wonderful job, not protecting the public. Or maybe they’re angling to get in on the lawyer campaign cash bonanza with Jerry. Wonder if Jerry and other California politicians benefit from protecting money laundering lawyers and law firms?
The State Bar of California is a farce. Nothing short of replacing it with a state agency can start to begin rebuilding the public’s trust.
EEBA Recommendation
Self-regulation doesn’t work. California needs to separate discipline from all other bar activities. Create a new judicial department under the Supreme Court– the Office of Attorney Discipline. Let them handle examination and licensing as well. The lawyers will then be free to establish their own voluntary bar association where they can play their petty political games and “service” each other without causing harm to the public and the administration of justice. By the way, the EEBA would be delighted to handle attorney discipline on an interim basis.
Time will tell whether Governor Arnold understands the depth of the problem with the bar or whether he’ll leave the problem to Edmund “Jerry” Brown and his lawyer cronies / campaign donors to further politicize the organization at the public’s peril.
Assemblyman Joel Anderson of El Cajon, the People of California thank you for voting “NOE” on SB 641. We need relief from the oppressive actions and inactions of the State Bar.
On on August 31, 2009, Republican, California State Assemblyman Anthony Adams of California’s 59th District (San Bernardino County communities of Apple Valley, Hesperia, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, San Bernardino, Highland, and Mentone as well as Los Angles County communities of Claremont, LaVerne, Glendora, San Dimas, Monrovia, Bradbury, Arcadia and LaCrescenta), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Anthony believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Anthony Adams district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in Anthony’s district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Anthony deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site Assemblyman Anthony Adams.
On on August 31, 2009, Democratic, California State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of California’s 13th District (San Francisco), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Tom believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Tom Ammiano’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in Tom’s district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Tom deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site Assemblyman Tom Ammiano.
On on August 31, 2009, Independent (formerly Democratic), California State Assemblyman Juan Arambula of California’s 31st District (Fresno County cities of Caruthers, Firebaugh, Fowler, Kerman, Mendota, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma, Tranquillity, and portions of Fresno, and the Tulare County cities of Cutler-Orosi and Dinuba), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Juan believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Juan Arambula’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in Juan’s district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Juan deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site Assemblyman Juan Arambula.
On on August 31, 2009, Democratic, California State Assemblywoman Karen Bass of California’s 47th District (Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, the Crenshaw District, Little Ethiopia and portions of Korea Town and South Los Angeles), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Karen believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits her support?
How many complaints, from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Karen Bass’ district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in Karen’s district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Karen deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to her about this. Go to her Internet site Assemblywoman Karen Bass.
On on August 31, 2009, Republican, California State Assemblyman Bill Berryhill of California’s 26th District (Ceres, Escalon, Manteca, Modesto, Patterson, Ripon, Stockton, Turlock), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Bill believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints, from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Bill’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in Bill’s district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Bill deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site: Assemblyman Bill Berryhill.
On on August 31, 2009, Republican, California State Assemblyman Tom Berryhill of California’s 26th District (Angels Camp, Chowchilla, Hughson, Madera, Mammoth Lakes, Modesto, Oakdale, Riverbank, Sonora, Waterford), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Tom believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints, from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Tom’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in his district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Tom deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site: Assemblyman Tom Berryhill.
On on August 31, 2009, Republican, California State Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee of California’s 33rd District (Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Cayucos, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, San Simeon, Santa Maria), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Sam believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints, from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Sam’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in his district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Sam deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site: Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee.
On on August 31, 2009, Democrat, California State Assemblymember Marty Block of California’s 78th District (San Diego, Chula Vista, Bonita, Lemon Grove, and Spring Valley), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Marty believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints, from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Marty’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in his district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Marty deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site: Assemblymember Marty Block.
On on August 31, 2009, Democrat, California State Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield of California’s 40th District (Van Nuys, North Hills, Northridge, Reseda, Winnetka, Canoga Park, West Hills and Woodland Hills), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Bob believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints, from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Bob’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in his district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Bob deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site: Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield.
On on August 31, 2009, Democratic, California State Assemblyman Jim Beall, Jr. of California’s 24th District (Campbell, Saratoga, parts of Santa Clara, San Jose and Los Gatos), voted “AYE” to approve SB 641 to continue to allow the State Bar of California to collect dues from its members.
The State Bar of California’s primary mission is to protect the public. Jim believes the fact the State Bar of California disciplines 0.8% of lawyers about which they receive complaints from the public merits his support?
How many complaints, from victims of attorney misconduct, who reside in Jim’s district, has the State Bar of California refused to investigate? Who will be the next victim in Jim’s district the Cal Bar will refuse to help?
Does Jim deserve voters support for not taking a stand against the shenanigans at the Cal Bar? Concerned voters should write to him about this. Go to his Internet site: Assemblyman Jim Beall, Jr..