California Bans Inquiries on Would-be Lawyers’ Mental Health

The California Bar starting in January will be prohibited from seeking prospective lawyers’ mental health records under a just-enacted law.

California becomes the latest state to remove the requirement for prospective lawyers to indicate their mental health and sign over medical records under Senate Bill 544. California lawyers once they pass the bar must be determined to be of “good moral character” under the state Business & Professions Code Section 6060(b). California lawyers are subject to regulation by the legislature and admission and discipline by the California Supreme Court.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed S.B. 544, which was introduced by ...