Patricia J. Barry, an attorney who has dedicated her career to civil rights, women's rights, and workplace freedom, is the most recent victim of the California State Bar’s corruption and mistreatment.
Ms. Barry, a superb trial attorney with a distinguished career, graduated from UCLA School of Law. She is known for arguing the nation’s first sexual harassment case before the United States Supreme Court.
Recently, her tireless efforts were instrumental in exposing alleged unethical management and hostile treatment of employees at the Los Angeles DWP.
In September of this year, the friction between Barry and the State Bar of California – as well as similar friction involving nationally-renowned lawyers' lawyer Phil Kay – was on the State Bar Board of Governors Operation Committee agenda at a closed meeting held at the Marriott Hotel in Monterey, California.
In attendance were Committee members Judy Johnson, George Davis, William Gailey, William Hebert, Rex Heinke, Paul Kramer, Jr., Michael Marcus, Patricia White, Jeannine English, and Richard Rubin.
Ms. Judy Johnson, who is currently the de jure executive director of the State Bar of California. After 2 Governors' vetoes and endless scandals was ousted and is due to leave by the end of the year. (Photo: Courtesy of Bar Journal)
Also present at the meeting at the Monterey Marriot to discuss the discord between the California State Bar and these two attorneys was Mr. Howard Miller, Thomas Girardi's confederate.
For those unfamiliar with Mr. Miller, he is the former California State Bar president who graciously agreed to appear in place of a recent law school graduate at oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit on matters relating to a $500 million judgment. Because the meeting was closed, it is unknown if Committee members were briefed on progress in any disciplinary proceedings against Howard Miller, Thomas Girardi, Walter Lack, Paul Triana, and Sean Topp in connection with the attempted fraud on the Dole Company and the courts.
Asked about Ms. Barry's alleged claim of mistreatment, State Bar Insider, an expert in the area of legal ethics and TLR's legal counsel, stated that the State Bar has been undergoing a long and radical process of ethical and moral collapse due to internal as well as external forces..
While SBI stated that he is not familiar with Ms. Barry, her claim of mistreatment came as no surprise. Under pressure to maintain numbers -- executives, judges, lawyers, and investigators -- have grown accustomed to cut corners and engage in reckless behavior without having to account for their misdeeds. Additionally, according to SBI, in order to compensate for failures, the State Bar spends enormous amount of money on lobbying and self-promotion.
TLR will of course continue to monitor this sad, and indeed tragic, story and provide updates as they become available.
