?upreme QJnurt Hf GJalifnrnia '350 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-4797 Hon. Mark Stone, Chair Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 3146 Sacramento, CA 95814 Hon. Ed Chau, Member Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 5016 Sacramento, CA 95 814 Hon. David Chiu, Member Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 4112 Sacramento, CA 95814 Hon. Cristina Garcia, Member Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 2013 Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: California Bar Exam March 9, 201.7 (415) 865 -?7060 Hon. Chris R. Holden, Member Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 5132 Sacramento, CA 95814 Hon. Ash Kalra, Member Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 5160 Sacramento, CA 95814 Hon. Eloise Gomez Reyes, Member Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 4015 Sacramento, CA 95814 Hon. Philip Y. Ting, Member Assembly Judiciary Committee State Capitol, Room 6026 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Chairman Stone, and Members Chau, Chiu, Garcia, Holden, Kalra, Reyes, and Ting: Thank you for your letter of March 2, 2017, and sharing your concerns regarding the declining pass rates on the California bar exam. As you are aware, the Supreme Court received a letter from the deans of 20 ABA-accredited law schools with a similar request to temporarily lower the cut score of 144 that the State Bar of California applies to the Multistate Bar Exam portion of the exam. The court agrees the impact of the low pass rate on law school graduates is signi?cant and calls for a thorough and expedited investigation. number of lssues that bear on the matter. Consequently, the court directed the State Bar to study and analyze a March 9, 2017 Page 2 While the court appreciates your desire for immediate action, it lacks a fully developed analysis with supporting evidence from which to conclude that 144 or another cut score would be the most for admission to the bar in California. Because an informed and deliberative process will allow the court to engage in the best decision making, the court respectfully declines to act in the absence of an investigation that examines all relevant data and factors. Please be assured, however, that the court will proceed with dispatch once presented with the State Bar?s analysis. Although the 144 cut score will remain intact for the time being, my February 28, 2017, letter directs the State Bar to submit recommendations for any changes to the bar exam as soon as practicable, and in no event later than December 1, 2017. Under that directive, the State Bar will bring any recommended changes to the court as soon as they are ready. The court is aware that the next bar exam is in July 2017 and will consider the application of any recommended changes to administration of that exam if those recommendations are timely and found appropriate. Thank you again for your sharing your concerns. Your views are appreciated, and your input into the investigative process will be duly considered. Sincerely, Law Tani G. Can il-Sakauye cc: James Fox, President, State Bar Elizabeth Parker, Executive Director, State Bar