California, September 19, 2025 News Summary California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as the new executive director of the State Bar, receiving unanimous approval. Her leadership comes at a critical time as the Californian State Bar faces significant challenges, particularly regarding the controversial February 2025 bar exam, which saw numerous technical difficulties and poorly designed questions. The California Supreme Court has mandated a return to the Multistate Bar Examination format, raising concerns about the role of AI in exam question development. Enderton-Speed will be tasked with navigating these ongoing issues. California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as its new executive director of the State Bar, with her appointment receiving unanimous approval during the State Bar’s Board of Trustees meeting held on Thursday. Enderton-Speed brings significant expertise to the position, having previously directed the office that offers leadership support to the Judicial Council of California. She is also recognized for her work as an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law and California State University. The California State Bar is currently facing challenges due to the fallout from its problematic bar exam rollout, and Enderton-Speed will lead the agency in addressing these issues. There is growing pressure from deans at California’s leading law schools for the State Bar to adopt the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028. This request is a direct response to the unfortunate events of the February 2025 bar exam, during which many examinees encountered significant technical difficulties along with poorly designed questions. In light of the issues arising from the February exam, the California Supreme Court has mandated that the bar exams scheduled for July 29 and 30 revert to the existing Multistate Bar Examination format. The February exam saw 3,886 examinees complete the test, with numerous reports detailing technical complications that led to a lawsuit against the examination vendor, Meazure Learning. Complicating matters further, the California Supreme Court has sought explanations surrounding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of certain multiple-choice questions for the flawed February exam. This use of AI has ignited concerns regarding transparency and the potential for conflicts of interest, especially since the court was only informed about the AI application after the test had taken place. Critics have raised questions about the adequacy of the review process for ensuring the exam’s reliability given the controversial AI origins of the questions. Under California law, changes affecting preparation for the bar exam necessitate a two-year notice period, suggesting possible violations regarding the development of exam questions. Despite this, the State Bar’s previous executive director expressed confidence in the validity of the multiple-choice questions generated with AI assistance. However, the decision to implement AI without prior approval from the Committee of Bar Examiners has raised eyebrows, as has the hiring of a non-legally trained psychometrician responsible for creating questions using AI tools. Amidst escalating scrutiny, the California State Bar has initiated a lawsuit against ProctorU, contending that the vendor did not meet expectations during the exam administration. Additionally, a legislative audit is under consideration to evaluate the administration issues associated with the February exam, while two class action lawsuits against Meazure Learning are still pending. The State Bar alleges fraud and other breaches against Meazure Learning, claiming that the vendor was not adequately prepared for the exam’s scale. The State Bar has also terminated its previous contract with ProctorU amid these complications. Key Developments: Laura Enderton-Speed appointed as new executive director of the California State Bar. Pressure from law school deans to implement the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028. California Supreme Court ordered a return to the Multistate Bar Examination for upcoming tests. February 2025 bar exam experienced significant technical difficulties and problematic questions. Background Context: The California State Bar has faced substantial criticism due to its handling of the bar exam and the new technologies implemented in the question development process. The utilization of AI for question creation has raised ethical questions, and the failure to obtain approval from requisite committees has further complicated the agency’s standing. FAQ: Who is the new executive director of the California State Bar? Laura Enderton-Speed was appointed as the new executive director on Thursday. What issues have arisen from the February 2025 bar exam? The February 2025 exam faced significant technical difficulties and poorly designed questions, leading to lawsuits and critiques. What has the California Supreme Court ordered regarding future exams? The California Supreme Court ordered the bar exam to revert to the existing Multistate Bar Examination for the July 29 and 30 exams. Key Features: Feature Description New Executive Director Laura Enderton-Speed appointed as executive director of the California State Bar. Bar Exam Issues February 2025 exam resulted in technical difficulties and problematic questions. Supreme Court Mandate Return to Multistate Bar Examination mandated for July 2025 exams. AI in Exam Development Concerns over the use of AI for question creation led to scrutiny and lawsuits. Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic Bloomberg Law: California State Bar Appoints New Executive Director Daily Journal: California Law Deans Urge State Bar to Adopt NextGen Exam Above the Law: California Bar’s Hasty Changes Critiqued Reuters: California Bar Exam Repercussions Los Angeles Times: Supreme Court Questions State Bar’s Use of AI Wikipedia: California State Bar Google Search: California Bar Exam Issues Google Scholar: California State Bar Exam Encyclopedia Britannica: State Bar Google News: California State Bar 2025
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