Significant changes are coming to the California State Bar, which oversees licensing and conduct regulation for more than a quarter million attorneys in the State of California. Municipal law expert Michael Colantuono was elected president in a dramatic vote earlier this month that could signal exciting times ahead. In addition, the Board of Trustees has adopted a new mission statement and is poised to embrace a set of reforms recommended by the 2017 Governance in the Public Interest Task Force. A new vice president and treasurer have also been elected.
Colantuono, who was first appointed to the State Bar Board of Trustees in 2012 by former Assembly Speaker John Perez, has said he’s committed to improving the bar’s relationship with the Legislature and generating more positive coverage from the press.
"I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees and all our hard-working Bar staff members to protect Californians, promote access to justice, and pursue a diverse profession to serve our diverse state," Colantuono stated.
Colantuono is a Harvard graduate with a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He has served as city attorney for the cities of Auburn, Grass Valley and Calabasas, and as Agency or General Counsel for a number of redevelopment agencies.
Read the State Bar’s press release here.