California, September 19, 2025
News Summary
California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as the new executive director of the California State Bar to lead through a period of challenges following a troubled bar exam rollout. Enderton-Speed, with her extensive experience and academic roles, will address the recent criticisms related to the February bar exam’s technical difficulties and the involvement of AI in question development. The State Bar is currently facing lawsuits and scrutiny over the exam administration, necessitating immediate reforms to restore confidence in the bar exam process.
California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as the new executive director of the California State Bar, a decision made unanimously during the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday. Enderton-Speed brings extensive experience, having previously directed the office providing leadership support to the Judicial Council of California. In addition to her role at the State Bar, she serves as an adjunct professor at both the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law and California State University.
The appointment of Enderton-Speed comes at a challenging time for the California State Bar, as the agency grapples with the repercussions of a troubled bar exam rollout. Recent events have drawn widespread criticism, especially following the disastrous February bar exam in which thousands of examinees encountered significant technical difficulties and poorly designed questions. In response, deans from California’s leading law schools have urged the State Bar to transition to the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028 to prevent similar issues in the future.
Following the February exam, in which 3,886 examinees participated, the California Supreme Court mandated that the upcoming July 29 and 30 exams revert to using the existing Multistate Bar Examination after complaints about the efficacy and reliability of the February exam surfaced. Reports indicated numerous occurrences of technical problems, leading to a lawsuit against Meazure Learning, the vendor responsible for administering the exam.
Further complicating matters, the California Supreme Court sought explanations regarding the employment of artificial intelligence (AI) in developing certain multiple-choice questions for the problematic February exam. This revelation raised significant legal and ethical concerns, particularly since the use of AI was disclosed only after the exam had concluded. Critics questioned both the transparency of this approach and its implications for the review process that ensures exam reliability.
California law stipulates that changes impacting preparation for the bar exam must be announced two years in advance, suggesting potential violations concerning the question development process. Nevertheless, the prior executive director of the State Bar, Leah Wilson, expressed confidence in the validity of the multiple-choice questions created with AI assistance, despite the lack of prior approval from the Committee of Bar Examiners.
Moreover, the hiring of a non-legally trained psychometrician to formulate questions with AI support has sparked allegations of a conflict of interest. Facing mounting scrutiny, the California State Bar has initiated a lawsuit against ProctorU, arguing that the company failed to meet expectations during the exam administration. There are also two ongoing class action lawsuits against Meazure Learning, while a legislative audit is being proposed to investigate the issues related to the February exam’s execution.
The outcomes of these actions have led to the termination of the State Bar’s preceding contract with ProctorU due to the pervasive issues encountered. As the newly appointed executive director, Enderton-Speed will be tasked with steering the agency through these turbulent times as it seeks to restore confidence in the bar exam process and address the pressing concerns of law students and educators alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was appointed as the new executive director of the California State Bar?
Laura Enderton-Speed was appointed as the new executive director of the California State Bar.
What issues arose during the February bar exam?
The February bar exam faced significant technical difficulties and poorly designed questions, leading to widespread criticism.
What has the California Supreme Court decided regarding the July bar exam?
The California Supreme Court ordered that the July 29 and 30 exams revert to using the existing Multistate Bar Examination.
What concerns were raised about the use of AI in the bar exam?
Concerns included transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and the adequacy of the review process for exam reliability.
What actions have been taken against the vendors involved in the February exam?
The California State Bar has initiated lawsuits against ProctorU and Meazure Learning over their failures during the exam.
Key Features of the New Appointment
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New Executive Director | Laura Enderton-Speed |
| Previous Roles | Director for Judicial Council of California, Adjunct Professor |
| Bar Exam Issues | Technical difficulties and poorly designed questions in February |
| Action by California Supreme Court | Return to Multistate Bar Examination for July exams |
| Lawsuits | Against ProctorU and Meazure Learning |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Bloomberg Law: California State Bar Appoints New Leader
- Daily Journal: California Law Deans Push for NextGen Bar Exam
- Above the Law: California Bar Changes Under Scrutiny
- Reuters: Thousands Get Another Chance After Failed Bar Exam
- LA Times: California Supreme Court Pressures State Bar on AI Usage
- Wikipedia: California State Bar
- Google Search: California Bar Exam Issues
- Google Scholar: California State Bar Exam 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Law
- Google News: California Bar Exam
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