California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §6043.5: (a) Every person who reports to the State Bar or causes a complaint to be filed with the State Bar that an attorney has engaged in professional misconduct, knowing the report or complaint to be false

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who knowingly files a false and malicious complaint with the State Bar accusing an attorney of professional misconduct commits a misdemeanor. The State Bar may refer such cases to prosecutors.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Every person who reports to the State Bar or causes a complaint to be filed with the State Bar that an attorney has engaged in professional misconduct, knowing the report or complaint to be false and malicious, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) The State Bar may, in its discretion, notify the appropriate district attorney or city attorney that a person has filed what the State Bar believes to be a false and malicious report or complaint against an attorney and recommend prosecution of the person under subdivision (a).

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.