California State Bar Names New Executive Director Amid Controversy

California, September 19, 2025

News Summary

California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as the new executive director of the California State Bar. Her leadership comes during a turbulent time, as the agency faces scrutiny over the February 2025 bar exam’s technical issues and calls for reform. Prominent law school deans are urging the State Bar to consider the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028. Enderton-Speed, previously responsible for leadership support at the Judicial Council, now steps into a role that involves navigating significant operational challenges, including recent lawsuits against exam vendors.

California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as its new executive director of the California State Bar as the agency grapples with the fallout from a troubled bar exam rollout. Her appointment was confirmed on Thursday, receiving unanimous approval at the State Bar’s Board of Trustees meeting. Enderton-Speed was previously responsible for directing the office that provides leadership support to the Judicial Council of California. Alongside her executive role, she serves as an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law and California State University.

Enderton-Speed’s leadership comes at a time when the State Bar is facing increasing scrutiny due to the problematic administration of the February 2025 bar exam, which was marred by a series of technical issues and poorly designed questions. Following these troubles, deans from California’s leading law schools have urged the State Bar to adopt the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028 to ensure a fairer testing process. Their calls for change are in response to an exam that prompted widespread complaints from examinees, leading to a lawsuit against the exam’s vendor, Meazure Learning.

The California Supreme Court has mandated that the bar exam revert to the existing Multistate Bar Examination for the upcoming tests scheduled for July 29 and 30. The prior exam in February saw 3,886 examinees facing numerous technical problems, which raised concerns about the adequacy of the review process for the exam’s reliability, particularly due to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in formulating some of the multiple-choice questions. The Supreme Court has requested explanations concerning the AI’s role in developing these questions, a subject that critics argue lacks transparency and raises potential conflicts of interest.

Reports indicate that the California State Bar only notified the Supreme Court about the AI usage after the February exam took place. This revelation adds to a growing list of concerns, particularly about potential violations of state law that require changes impacting exam preparation to be communicated with a minimum two-year notice. Despite these issues, the State Bar’s former executive director, Leah Wilson, expressed confidence in the validity of the questions, stating that the intention to use AI in question creation did not receive prior approval from the Committee of Bar Examiners.

Adding to the controversy is the hiring of a non-legally trained psychometrician tasked with creating exam questions using AI, which has drawn criticism as a conflict of interest scenario. The agency now finds itself amidst a lawsuit against ProctorU for failing to meet expectations during the exam, alongside two pending class action lawsuits against Meazure Learning. The State Bar’s lawsuit claims that Meazure Learning engaged in fraudulent practices and other breaches by allegedly being unprepared for the scale of the exam.

In summary, the California State Bar’s new executive director will navigate a tumultuous landscape post-controversial bar exams. There is also an impending legislative audit to evaluate the February exam’s administration issues. In light of these matters, the State Bar has terminated its contract with ProctorU, signaling a significant shift in its operational strategies moving forward.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Bloomberg Law: California State Bar Pulls New Leader From Judicial Council
• Wikipedia: California State Bar
• Daily Journal: California Law Deans Push State Bar to Adopt NextGen Universal Bar Exam in 2028
• Google Search: California Bar Exam 2025
• LA Times: California Supreme Court Demands State Bar Answer AI Questions
• Google Scholar: California State Bar
• ABA Journal: California State Bar Sues Vendor After Troubled Exam
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Bar Examination
• Reuters: Thousands Who Did Not Pass California Bar Exam Get Chance to Practice Now
• Google News: California State Bar Exam

Author: STAFF HERE CORONADO

The Coronado Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HERECoronado.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Coronado, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Coronado Island Film Festival, productions at Lamb’s Players Theatre, community workshops at John D. Spreckels Center, and iconic celebrations at Hotel del Coronado. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Coronado Chamber of Commerce and Visit Coronado, plus leading businesses in hospitality, dining, and tourism that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERESanDiego.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.