Robinson Seeking Job as Monitor of Lawyer Discipline

Former Orange County Assemblyman Richard Robinson is seeking appointment as the state’s first monitor of lawyer discipline, The Times has learned.

Robinson, a Democrat, was defeated in his bid to unseat incumbent Rep. Robert Dornan (R-Garden Grove) in last November’s election. There had been speculation that Robinson would become a candidate to succeed Cypress Democrat Paul Carpenter, who has vacated the 33rd state Senate District.

Rich Jacobs, an aide to Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp, said Thursday that Robinson is one of several applicants for the newly created lawyer discipline monitor post. The Legislature gave the attorney general authority last year to appoint a monitor to review, and investigate as necessary, the State Bar of California’s discipline of errant lawyers, Jacobs said.

Legislation creating the post, authored by state Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside), requires the job-holder to report findings to the Legislature by May and every five months thereafter. For the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, $90,000 has been set aside for salary, staff and office expenses.

The position will be funded through annual attorneys’ dues collected by the State Bar. Legislators said they favored establishment of the position because of the 6,000-case backlog of unresolved complaints filed by the public against lawyers.

Sigrid Bathen, Van de Kamp’s press secretary, said a decision on the appointment is expected next week. Officials refused to name other applicants but said they include retired judges.

Reached in Sacramento earlier this week, Robinson confirmed that he had applied for the post. He refused to discuss the matter in order to “protect the integrity of the attorney general’s selection process.”

A Republican lawmaker who requested anonymity said Van de Kamp’s staff had circulated Robinson’s name to test GOP leaders’ reactions.

Robinson was not available for comment Thursday after Gov. George Deukmejian called a special election in May to fill the 33rd state Senate District seat vacated by Carpenter’s being elected to the State Board of Equalization last November.

Earlier this week, Robinson said he had ruled out the Senate race “to pursue several opportunities,” including the post of discipline monitor.

Less than two weeks after his defeat by Dornan, Robinson moved his legal residence to an address in the 33rd District, prompting speculation that he would run for Carpenter’s seat.