Moreover, extraordinarily high dues were needed to fund this course. A different bar association emerged, openly partisan without regard to the wishes of our members. Board members, in turn, became more concerned about the secondary channel to enhance their presidential aspirations. Accordingly, it became insufficient to merely be concerned about traditional licensing, regulatory and disciplinary functions of the bar. This secondary channel, cut off from the mainstream, eventually became a bog of personalities, partisanship and presidential politics.
Recent events confirm that the board of governors has become bogged.
The best way to drain the bog, returning the State Bar to the mainstream, is to create a new board of governors primarily appointed by the California Supreme Court. Service would be limited to a maximum of four years. To assure continuity, a president-elect position would be created. Further, the president and the president-elect must be lawyers. The new board would commence in January 1999.