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Court Rules

California Rules of Court

Rule 9.15. Petitions for review by State Bar in moral character proceedings

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.15

Current text effective October 1, 2025.

#(a) Petition for review by the State Bar

The State Bar may petition for review of the decision of the Review Department of the State Bar Court in moral character proceedings. All petitions under this rule must be served and filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court within 60 days after the State Bar Court decision is filed and served on the General Counsel of the State Bar at the San Francisco or the Los Angeles office of the State Bar. The applicant may file and serve an answer within 20 days after filing of the petition. Within 10 days after filing of the answer the State Bar may serve and file a reply.

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(Subd (a) amended effective October 1, 2025; previously amended effective January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2019.)

#(b) Contents of petition

A petition to the Supreme Court filed under this rule must show that review within the State Bar Court has been exhausted, must address why review is appropriate under one or more of the grounds specified in rule 9.16, and must have attached a copy of the State Bar Court decision for which review is sought.

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(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2007.)

#(c) Service

All petitions, briefs, reply briefs, and other pleadings filed by the State Bar must include a proof of service by mail to the applicant’s last address provided to the State Bar or the applicant’s attorney of record, if any. Filings by the applicant must include a proof of service of one copy on the General Counsel of the State Bar at the San Francisco or the Los Angeles office of the State Bar and one copy on the Clerk of the State Bar Court at the Los Angeles office of the State Bar Court.

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(Subd (c) amended effective October 1, 2025; previously amended effective April 20, 1998, January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2019.)

#(d) Confidentiality

All filings under this rule are confidential unless: (1) the applicant waives confidentiality in writing; or (2) the Supreme Court grants review. Once the Supreme Court grants review, filings under this rule are open to the public; however, if good cause exists, the Supreme Court may order portions of the record or the identity of witnesses or other third parties to the proceedings to remain confidential.

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(Subd (d) amended effective January 1, 2007; adopted effective April 20, 1998.)

#History

Rule 9.15 amended effective October 1, 2025; adopted as rule 952.6 by the Supreme Court effective July 1, 1993, and by the Judicial Council May 6, 1998; previously amended by the Supreme Court effective April 20, 1998, and January 1, 2019; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007.

What this rule requires

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

  • All petitions under this rule must be served and filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court within 60 days after the State Bar Court decision is filed and served on the General Counsel of the State Bar at the San Francisco or the Los Angeles office of the State Bar.

  • The applicant may file and serve an answer within 20 days after filing of the petition.

  • Within 10 days after filing of the answer the State Bar may serve and file a reply.

Service and Proof of Service Rules

  • Petitions must be served on and filed with the Supreme Court Clerk within the stated 60-day period.

    The rule's wording

    All petitions under this rule must be served and filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court within 60 days after the State Bar Court decision is filed and served on the General Counsel of the State Bar at the San Francisco or the Los Angeles office of the State Bar.

  • The applicant may file and serve an answer within 20 days after filing of the petition.

  • Within 10 days after filing of the answer the State Bar may serve and file a reply.

  • All petitions, briefs, reply briefs, and other pleadings filed by the State Bar must include a proof of service by mail to the applicant’s last address provided to the State Bar or the applicant’s attorney of record, if any.

  • Filings by the applicant must include a proof of service of one copy on the General Counsel of the State Bar at the San Francisco or the Los Angeles office of the State Bar and one copy on the Clerk of the State Bar Court at the Los Angeles office of the State Bar Court.

Document Filing Requirements

  • A petition must show exhaustion of State Bar Court review, address why review is appropriate under one or more grounds specified in rule 9.16, and attach the challenged decision.

    The rule's wording

    A petition to the Supreme Court filed under this rule must show that review within the State Bar Court has been exhausted, must address why review is appropriate under one or more of the grounds specified in rule 9.16, and must have attached a copy of the State Bar Court decision for which review is sought.

Sealing & Redaction Procedures

  • All filings under this rule are confidential unless: (1) the applicant waives confidentiality in writing; or (2) the Supreme Court grants review.

  • Once the Supreme Court grants review, filings under this rule are open to the public; however, if good cause exists, the Supreme Court may order portions of the record or the identity of witnesses or other third parties to the proceedings to remain confidential.

Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.