About California Ethics Rules
California ethics rules are available:
- Free online from the California government
- In print as part of Deering's California Codes Annotated and West's Annotated California Codes
- Online as part of Lexis' version of Deering's California Codes Annotated and Westlaw's version of West's Annotated California Codes
Generally, it's best to access the rules on Lexis and Westlaw because they provide:
- Annotations: Brief notes by Lexis and Westlaw staff identifying the most significant cases and other sources about the rule or statute. Found after the text of each rule or statute in print and on Lexis and under the Notes of Decision and Context & Analysis tabs on Westlaw.
- Citators: Tools that automatically search for additional cases and other sources that cite the rule or statute. Found by clicking the Shepardize link in the right sidebar on Lexis and the Citing References tab on Westlaw.
California Business and Professions Code §§ 6000 et seq. (State Bar Act)
The California legislature regulates attorneys through the State Bar Act, published in the California codes at California Business and Professions Code §§ 6000 et seq.
Business and Professions Code §§ 6000 et seq. is available from the following sources:
- State Bar ActCall Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 232ABrowse to BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE > Division 3 Professions and Vocations Generally > Chapter 4 Attorneys
- State Bar ActA free unannotated version of the State Bar Act is available from the legislature's website.
California Code of Judicial Ethics and Rules and Policy Declarations of the Commission on Judicial Performance
Judges in California are regulated by the California Code of Judicial Ethics. The Commission on Judicial Performance is responsible for investigating and disciplining judges, in accordance with its rules and policy declarations.
The materials regulating judges are available through the following sources:
- California Code of Judicial EthicsCall Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 231ABoth in print and online the California Code of Judicial Ethics is included in West's Annotated California Codes, located after the Code of Civil Procedure.
- Rules and Policy Declarations of the Commission on Judicial PerformanceCall Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 231ABoth in print and online the Rules and Policy Declarations of the Commission on Judicial Performance are included in West's Annotated California Codes, located after the Code of Civil Procedure.
- California Code of Judicial Ethics
Rules and Policy Declarations of the Commission on Judicial PerformanceCall Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 232AOn Lexis, the California Code of Judicial Ethics and the Rules and Policy Declarations of the Commission on Judicial Performance are located under Statutes & Legislation > California > CA - California Local, State & Federal Court Rules > SUPPLEMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA RULES OF COURT.
In print, the Rules and Policy Declarations of the Commission on Judicial Performance (but not the California Code of Judicial Ethics) are located at the end of Deering's California Codes Annotated, in a soft-cover blue book titled Standard California Codes, Rules of Court.
- Rules of the Commission on Judicial PerformanceFree unannotated version of the rules from the Commission's website.
- Policy Declarations of the Commission on Judicial PerformanceFree unannotated version of the policy declarations from the Commission's website.
Rules of the California State Bar and Rules of Professional Conduct
The State Bar of California produces the:
- Rules of the State Bar: Governing the activities of the State Bar.
- Rules of Professional Conduct: Establishing ethical standards for California attorneys.
The rules are available through the following sources:
- Rules of the State Bar of California, including Rules of Professional ConductCall Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 231ABoth in print and online the Rules of the State Bar of California are included in West's Annotated California Codes, located after the California Code of Civil Procedure. The Rules of Professional Conduct are included at the end of the Rules of the State Bar.
- Rules of the State Bar of California, including Rules of Professional ConductCall Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 232AOn Lexis, the Rules of the State Bar of California are located under Statutes & Legislation > California > CA - California Local, State & Federal Court Rules. The Rules of Professional Conduct are included at the end of the Rules of the State Bar.
In print, the Rules of Professional Conduct (but not the Rules of the State Bar) are located at the end of Deering's California Codes Annotated, in a soft-cover blue book titled Standard California Codes, Rules of Court.
- Rules of the State Bar and Rules of Professional ConductFree unannotated versions of the rules are available from the State Bar's website.
California Rules of Court, Title 9
The California Rules of Court includes Title 9. Rules on Law Practice, Attorneys, and Judges.
The rules are available through the following sources:
- California Rules of Court, Title 9Call Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 231ABoth in print and online the California Rules of Court are included in West's Annotated California Codes, located after the California Code of Civil Procedure.
- California Rules of Court, Title 9Call Number: Law 2nd Floor Row 232AOn Lexis, the California Rules of Court are located under Statutes & Legislation > California > CA - California Local, State & Federal Court Rules.
In print, the California Rules of Court are located at the end of Deering's California Codes Annotated, in a soft-cover blue book titled Standard California Codes, Rules of Court.
- California Rules of Court, Title 9Free, unannotated version of the rules, available from the courts' website
Publication 250 of the California Compendium on Professional Responsibility
- Publication 250 of the California Compendium on Professional ResponsibilityPublication 250 is a collection of all major California ethics rules, provided for free online by the California bar.