SAN FRANCISCO – Chino Hills attorney James Michael Ibold has been summarily disbarred following a California Supreme Court decision and his conviction last year on a child pornography charge, according to a notification recently issued by The State Bar of California.
The high court issued its disbarment order on Feb. 1, based on an earlier recommendation by the State Bar Court. Ibold's effective disbarment date was March 3, according to a notification provided to the Northern California Record last week.
The charge for which Ibold was convicted "is moral turpitude per se because the crime involves exploitation of children and shows flagrant disrespect for the law and societal norms," the state bar court said in its recommendation issued in September. "Accordingly, Ibold's conviction qualifies him for summary disbarment."
Under California law, Ibold's conviction rendered him not entitled to a state bar court hearing to determine whether he could receive a lesser discipline and he did not respond to a state bar request for summary disbarment, according to the recommendation.
Ibold, also known as James Miguel Ibold, was admitted to the bar in California on May 11, 1992, according to his profile at the state bar website. Ibold had no prior discipline before the state bar, according to his profile.
Ibold was placed on interim suspension following a May state bar court order and his arrest the previous year in San Bernardino County on a charge of possession or control of child pornography. His suspension, effective May 29, followed his conviction in February of last year on the felony charge, which the state bar considers a crime involving moral turpitude, according to the state bar court's recommendation.
In August, the state bar's office of the chief trial counsel filed a request for summary disbarment. Ibold did not respond to the request, which the state bar court granted in September, recommending the state Supreme Court summarily disbar Ibold.