State Bar’s Discipline
In an editorial regarding the California State Bar’s disciplinary system (“Policing the Lawyers,” April 2) you stated that several local Bar associations, “including San Francisco’s”, have rejected the dues increase proposed by the State Bar to improve its disciplinary system. This is incorrect. The Bar Assn. of San Francisco’s resolution specifically approved the efforts of the State Bar to improve discipline and agreed that a dues increase was necessary to achieve this end. However, after careful study, the board disagreed with the specific amount of the increase proposed by the State Bar board.
Further, your comparison of the proposed dues to the union dues paid by “thousands of ordinary California workers” overlooks the fact that, while many lawyers make very good incomes, many others--particularly minorities, women, public service, young and part-time lawyers--do not, and the present State Bar proposal does not contain assurances that the necessary dues increase will be apportioned to reflect the ability to pay.
Your concern about the efforts of the Bar to improve its dilapidated disciplinary system is appreciated.
EDWARD E. KALLGREN
President
Bar Assn. of San Francisco
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
