Committee of Bar Examiners Meeting
Notice and Agenda
Friday, April 19, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Teleconference



Members of the public may access this meeting as follows: 
Zoom Link: https://calbar.zoom.us/j/97729429096
Call-In Number: 669-900-9128 
Webinar ID: 977 2942 9096

Members of the public may also access this meeting as follows: 
373 E Mendocino Street, Altadena, CA 91001
15688 Monica Court, Fontana, CA 92336
300 W. Glenoaks Blvd, Suite 300, Glendale, CA, 91202
600 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701         
845 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
110 Westwood Plaza, Suite g406, Los Angeles, CA 90095   
914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814 
700 Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana 92701
180 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
438 S. Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086      
400 County Center, Courtroom 6A, Redwood City, CA 94063

Open Session

-- CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT --
Members of the public are encouraged to use this form for public comment. Completing this form is not required; however, those that sign up in advance will be called first. Public comment typically occurs at the beginning of each meeting; the chair has the discretion to move the public comment period or allow for additional public comment periods during the meeting. Members of the public wishing to submit written comments may email them to CBE@calbar.ca.gov. Deadline to sign up and submit written comments is 24 hours before the start of the meeting. View the State Bar’s Public Comment Policy.

I. Remarks from Chair
A. Welcome/Roll Call
B. Approval of March 15, 2024, Committee of Bar Examiners Public Meeting Minutes
C. Chair’s Report
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Report of Administrative Updates Regarding Law Schools (Natalie Leonard and Paul Kramer)
III. OPERATIONS AND MANAGMENT
A. Action on Cost Reduction Initiatives Related to the Bar Exam, Beginning with the February 2025 Administration (Audrey Ching, Cody Hounanian, and Amy Nuñez) [Special Set for 10:00 a.m.]
IV. EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS
A. Action on Major Change – Change of Ownership – Taft Law School (Natalie Leonard and Paul Kramer)
B. Discussion and Action on Strategy to Improve Outcomes in Unaccredited Law Schools (Natalie Leonard and Paul Kramer)
V. REPORT FROM DIRECTOR
A. Oral Report

  1. Update on the Bar Exam Experiment
  2. Office of Admissions Metrics (including July 2024 Bar Exam Numbers)
  3. Final approved fee increases for California Accredited Law Schools
  4. Recent Developments
Closed Session

I. Chair's Time
A. Report from Counsel (Kirsten Galler)
Report on Pending Litigation [Closed pursuant to Gov. Code § 11126(e)(1)]
Brewer v. State Bar, et al., E.D. Cal., Case No. 2:23-cv-00860, Ninth Cir., Case No. 24-2151
B. Approval of March 15, 2024, Committee of Bar Examiners Closed Meeting Minutes [Closed pursuant to Bus. & Prof. Code § 6026.7(c)(3)-(4) and Gov. Code §§ 11126(c)(1) and 11126(e)(1)]
C. Discussion and Approval of Written Questions for Inclusion on July 2024 California Bar Examination [Special Set for Saturday, April 20 in Closed Session] [Closed pursuant to Bus. & Prof. Code § 6026.7(c)(3) and Gov. Code § 11126(c)(1).]
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Report and Discussion of Staff Moral Character Determinations (Christian Harvey and David Lane) [Closed pursuant to Bus. & Prof. Code § 6026.7(c)(4)]
B. Report on Status of Pending Moral Character State Bar Court Cases (Christian Harvey and David Lane) [Closed pursuant to Bus. & Prof. Code § 6026.7(c)(4)]
III. EXAMINATIONS
A.

Action on Pending Testing Accommodation Appeals (Christina Doell) [Closed pursuant to Bus. & Prof. Code § 6026.7(c)(3)-(4)- and Gov. Code § 11126(c)(1)]

IV. MORAL CHARACTER
A. Action on Moral Character Cases Pending Administrative Review (Christian Harvey and David Lane) [Closed pursuant to Bus. & Prof. Code § 6026.7(c)(4)]
Adjourn






In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, those requiring modifications or accommodations to address and observe this meeting should submit this form at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to allow sufficient time to make arrangements for accommodations at this meeting. Any doubt whatsoever regarding a specific request will be resolved in favor of accessibility. If you disagree with the initial determination regarding your request for accommodations at the meeting, you can request review of that determination by the State Bar’s ADA coordinator. To initiate this review, please respond to your determination up to 24 hours prior to the meeting. More information regarding the accessibility of the State Bar’s proceedings, services, and programs is available on the State Bar’s website at https://www.calbar.ca.gov/accessibility.

 

Questions regarding any agenda item should be directed to the Committee Coordinator(s) Ms. Devan McFarland at (415) 538-2548 or Chair, Dr. Michael Cao at (415) 538-2300, care of the Office of Admissions, 180 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Committee members are requested to notify the committee coordinator as early as possible in advance of the meeting if they wish to remove any item(s) from the consent agenda.

All times indicated and the order of business are approximate and subject to change.

The notice and agenda are available at http://board.calbar.ca.gov/Board.aspx.