Why Can't California's State Bar Find a Good Lawyer?

Fired? Steven Moawad Leaves State Bar - Mark Peterson Disbarred One Year After Criminal Charges

Moawad's former boss- Disgraced former DA Mark Peterson- Criminally Charged

  
If you wanted to drink  the Kool-Aid the State Bar was  serving up last year when James P. Fox and Leah Wilson gushed that former DDA Steven Moawad was the guy to discipline lawyers, you might first consider that Moawad has been named in a federal lawsuit and is being investigated as  Joe Dunn (who was independently investigated), James Towery (who resigned as ethics charges caught up to him)  and Gregory Dresser (who blackmailed top judges to get the CJP job),  al were . The Bar has been unable to find and keep good lawyers, and all  failed to protect the public for the last two decades. 

Ironically,  as Moawad became employed in the top Bar job, at $16,000 more than his female predecessor,  his former boss , Mark Peterson, was facing a criminal indictment and was ultimately disbarred after investigative reporter Nat Gatrell started investigating Contra Costa County's District Attorney's Office. 
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                                    TIMELINE OF STEVEN MOAWAD'S DOWNFALL

April 2017- James P. Fox and Leah Wilson start PR flurry to instill public confidence that Moawad is the man for the job where attorney discipline is concerned. Lyle Morgan of the LA Daily Journal noted Moawad was offered $16,000 more than his female predecessor. 

May 2017- Disgraced  Contra Costa County DA Mark Peterson, Moawad's former boss, investigated for campaign fraud and other crimes, would ultimately resign amidst a media frenzy sparked by social media pressure. 

June 2017- State Bar receives complaints about attorney Nancy Perkovich for her shameful conduct in the Hayward Case. State Bar investigator Ben Churny , supervised by Moawad, fails to act with any sense of urgency to protect the public. 

July 2017 - State Bar gets complaints about corrupt divorce lawyers Nat Hales and Bradford Baugh, from Santa Clara County, Towery and Moawad intervene to protect family lawyers in Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties, as assisted by State Bar attorneys Leah Wilson, Vanessa Holton, Sherrie McLetchie,  and Suzanne Grandt. 

July 2017 - Suzanne Grandt threatens reporters making Public Records Requests of the Bar , while admitting to the Board of Trustee the irregularities  in  the reporting of attorneys facing crimes pursuant to Business and Professions Code 6101. 

July 2017- State Bar Suspends Mark Peterson, Moawad's former boss despite felony conviction. 

                                                 LAWMAKERS SPLIT UP THE BAR 

January 2018- Forensic Accountant testifies before state legislature about money laundering, fraud and sex trafficking, that may ensnarl hundreds of California' lawyers. 

February 2018= Antitrust Complaint filed against Santa Clara County Family Law Attorney Valerie Houghton. Along with Santa Clara County prosecutor Allison Filo , Sharon Roper and Bradford Baugh. 

                                     State Bar Continues to Fail in Public Protection

March 2018- California Supreme Court Disbars Former Contra Costa County DA Mark Peterson, as reported in the San Jose Mercury News. 

March 2018 - Former Contra Costa County DA Office Employee, forensic CPA,  Bassem Banafa, files federal lawsuit claiming Mark Peterson and Steven Moawad allegedly misused the Santa Clara County DA's office to Harass, Discriminate and Retaliate. 

April 2018- State Bar admits to failure to oversee Moawad's confirmation in the State Senate.

May 2018- Antitrust and RICO complaint lodged with the State Bar includes Moawad and Santa Clara County prosecutors Jeff Rosen, Daniella Rich,  David Angel, John Chase, James Gibbons Shapiro, along with  family law attorneys Nicole Ford, Hector Moreno, Lynne Yates Cater, Heather Allan,  Rebekah Frye. Nat Hales, Richard Roggia, Nat Hales, Travis Krepelkha, Jim Hoover, Bradford Baugh , and James McManis, all who donated "dark" money to Arron Persky's No on Recall Campaign. 

                                 BYE BYE Moawad.....Wagstaffe and Rosen are next ..............

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen and San Mateo County Steve Wagstaffe appear next on the chopping block due to their track record that fails victims and attacks activists critical of their offices.

Thanks Victoria Balfour! 

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