Judge: Linda S. Marks, Case: 2019-01047183, Date: 2022-10-03 Tentative Ruling

Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice filed by The People of the State of California on 9/1/22 

Plaintiff The People of the State of California (“Plaintiff”) filed the application of Sonya B. Coffman to appear as counsel pro hac vice on its behalf.

California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40(a) “Eligibility” states: “A person who is not a licensee of the State Bar of California but who is an attorney in good standing of and eligible to practice before the bar of any United States court or the highest court in any state, territory, or insular possession of the United States, and who has been retained to appear in a particular cause pending in a court of this state, may in the discretion of such court be permitted upon written application to appear as counsel pro hac vice, provided that an active licensee of the State Bar of California is associated as attorney of record. No person is eligible to appear as counsel pro hac vice under this rule if the person is: (1) A resident of the State of California; (2) Regularly employed in the State of California; or (3) Regularly engaged in substantial business, professional, or other activities in the State of California.”

Subsection (b) “Repeated appearances as a cause for denial” states: “Absent special circumstances, repeated appearances by any person under this rule is a cause for denial of an application.”

          Subsection (d) of Rule 9.40 sets forth the requirements of an application of counsel to appear pro hac vice.

In support of the application, Sonya Coffman, the moving attorney, declares the following to meet the requirements of Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 9.40.

1. Member of State Bar of CA? No. (Verified App. ¶ 4).
2. Resident of California? No. (Verified App. ¶ 3).
3. Regularly employed in California? No. (Verified App. ¶ 2.) Note: Only states that employed by the Coffman Law Group which is in Texas.
4. Regularly engaged in substantial business, professional, or other activities in California? No. (Verified App. ¶ 2.)  Note: Does not explicitly address this but assume no because states employed by Coffman Law Group which is in Texas.
5. Associated with California attorney? Yes. (Verified App. ¶ 8; see also Blood Decl., ¶¶ 2 and 3.)
6. Verified declaration? Yes, Verified App. of Coffman,
7. Service on the State Bar in San Francisco? Yes.  (See Blood Decl., ¶ 4.)
8. Good standing and not currently suspended or disbarred? Yes. (Verified App. ¶ 6.)
9. Courts admitted and dates of admission? Yes. (Verified App. ¶ 4.)
10. Number of other California appearances in prior 2 years? Zero. (Verified App. ¶ 7.)
11. Residence address? Yes. (Verified App. ¶ 3.)
12. Office address? Yes. (Verified App. ¶ 2.) Name, address, and telephone number of active member of State Bar of CA who is attorney of record? Yes. (Verified App. ¶ 8; see also Blood Decl., ¶¶ 1-3.)
13. Proof of payment? Yes. (Blood Decl., ¶ 4.)

Plaintiff has submitted the verified application of counsel which complies fully with the California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40. Tentative Ruling: The Court GRANTS the Application for Admission of Sonya B. Coffman pro hac vice.

Moving Party to give notice.