Opinion ID: 1183708
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Chicago Hearing

Text: Findings of the local committee and board are not binding on this court; rather, we must reweigh the evidence, passing on its sufficiency. However, since the local committee is obviously in a better position to judge the credibility of the attorney than is either this court or the board, greater weight will be given its findings. Reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the practitioner and, if equally reasonable inferences may be drawn from a proven fact, the inference leading to his innocence will be accepted. ( Black v. State Bar (1972) 7 Cal.3d 676, 683-684 [103 Cal. Rptr. 288, 499 P.2d 968]; Werner v. The State Bar (1939) 13 Cal.2d 666, 676 [91 P.2d 881].) In appropriate circumstances this court has given substantial weight to factual determinations by a trial court hearing the charge of misconduct prior to hearings by the local committee. ( Bernstein v. Committee of Bar Examiners (1968) 69 Cal.2d 90, 103-104 [70 Cal. Rptr. 106, 443 P.2d 570].) However, direct contempt is usually a hastened proceeding intended to secure compliance with a court order ( Arthur v. Superior Court (1965) 62 Cal.2d 404, 409 [42 Cal. Rptr. 441, 398 P.2d 777]) and, in light of its summary nature and the dual role occupied by the judge, we are hesitant to depart from primary reliance on the findings of a local committee. In support of the committee's finding of mistaken belief, there does not appear to have been any substantial motive for Vaughn to have lied when he first stated he was due in Chicago on Tuesday, and we accept the committee's determination.