Girardi Grievance Numbers Stoke California State Bar Critic Ire

The California State Bar’s revelation that the agency for four decades failed to hold now-disbarred celebrity lawyer Thomas Girardi responsible for complaints about stealing from clients highlights its failures when it comes to high-profile and politically connected attorneys, critics said.

“What took so long?” said Carol M. Langford, an attorney who represents California lawyers in discipline cases and is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

“Mr. Girardi knew how to wine, dine and gift the powers that be to ensure no one looked too closely at that horse’s mouth. We do know that ...