Opinion ID: 1354180
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Asserted Procedural Errors

Text: Petitioner further contends, without citation of authority, that it was a denial of due process to consolidate for hearing the Milojevic matter and an unrelated charge involving a Florence Miller, The two matters were commenced by separate notices to show cause but were consolidated for hearing under rule 27, Rules of Procedure of the State Bar. [10] An objection by petitioner to the consolidation was overruled by the local committee. The local committee found petitioner guilty of misconduct in both matters. The board, however, dismissed the Miller matter and found petitioner culpable only in the Milojevic matter. In Black v. State Bar, supra, 7 Cal.3d 676, wherein the petitioner complained it was a denial of due process to consolidate for hearing two unrelated accusations, we stated that it did not appear he had been prejudiced by the consolidation since the board dismissed one of the matters pursuant to the local committee's recommendation. Coviello v. State Bar, 41 Cal.2d 273, 275-276 [259 P.2d 7], held that the petitioner could not successfully complain that it was improper to join two unrelated counts where he made no objection before the local committee and there was nothing indicating he was prejudiced by the joinder. Here, unlike Black, the local committee did not recommend dismissal of one of the matters and, unlike Coviello, an objection was made before the local committee. (3) However, in that objection and the petition for review petitioner did not point to any matter supporting his conclusion that he was prejudiced by the consolidation. [11] Under the circumstances his contention that he was denied due process by the consolidation cannot be upheld. (4, 5) The local committee did not file its findings, conclusions, and recommendation with the State Bar until nearly nine months after the expiration of the time specified in rule 34, Rules of Procedure of the State Bar. Petitioner asserts that the committee's failure to comply with rule 34 constituted an irregularity. However, he points to nothing indicating he was prejudiced thereby, and it is settled that compliance with rule 34 is nonjurisdictional. (Rule 20(a), Rules of Procedure of the State Bar; Reznik v. State Bar, 1 Cal.3d 198, 204 [81 Cal. Rptr. 769, 460 P.2d 969, 40 A.L.R. 3d 161]; Arden v. State Bar, supra, 52 Cal.2d 310, 316.) Under the circumstances the fact that the committee did not comply with rule 34 does not warrant our rejecting the board's recommendation.