State Bar of Arizona Releases Results of Discipline Perception Survey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12-2-2024

Contact: Taylor Tasler, Public Relations Manager

Phone: 602.340.7257

Email: taylor.tasler@staff.azbar.org

State Bar of Arizona Releases Results of Discipline Perception Survey

PHOENIX — Results of a State Bar of Arizona survey focused on perceptions regarding the discipline process. For survey participants who were respondents or knew someone who was a respondent in the system and answered that they perceived bias, the leading sources were practice area (13.1%), firm size (13.1%), followed by relationship with the Bar (7.3%), political orientation (5.4%), experience (4.1%), race/ethnicity (3.6%) and gender (2.9%).

Of the respondents who reported involvement in the disciplinary process, 42% agreed the system provides a “full and fair opportunity to defend against a charge,” while 25% disagreed. Regarding effectiveness of the system, 54% of participants view the system as effective, while 26% view it as not effective.

The State Bar partnered with Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs to send the perception survey to nearly 25,000 members. Those members included active, inactive, judicial and those ineligible to practice, along with other legal professionals with bar membership. Legal professionals and judges were asked how they perceive the disciplinary process and whether they believe there is some form of bias.

This survey was conducted to determine the membership’s perceptions and not to evaluate any potential disparities in the system.

“The goal of this survey is to better understand our member’s perception of the system. Their input is essential to the future of this organization. The State Bar can now take this information to create targeted programs to aid in changing these perceptions and help prevent bar charges in some areas, “said Ted Schmidt, President of the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors.

You can find a summary of the survey published in the Arizona Attorney Magazine Arizona Attorney - Survey: Discipline Bias Perceptions and can access the full report here.

About the State Bar

The State Bar of Arizona is a non-profit organization that operates under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court. The Bar includes more than 19,000 active attorneys and provides education and development programs for the legal profession and the public. Since 1933 the Bar and its members have been committed to serving the public by making sure the voices of all people in Arizona are heard in our justice system.

About the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University

The School of Public Affairs (SPA) lives the ASU Charter by preparing students and professionals for ethical, inclusive and effective public service; conducting cutting-edge research of public value; and engaging locally, nationally and internationally with the communities we serve. Our faculty are an active community of scholars with deep and broad expertise in public policy and public administration. As a result, SPA is ranked #13 School of Public Affairs in the nation by US News and World Report, and #5 in the U.S. by Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.