Joseph Lawrence Dunn (born September 5, 1958) is an American former California State Senator who represented California's 34th Senate District in central Orange County from 1998 to 2006.
Joe Dunn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the California Senate from the 34th district | |
| In office December 7, 1998 – November 4, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Rob Hurtt |
| Succeeded by | Lou Correa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 5, 1958 St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Diane |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | College of St. Thomas University of Minnesota Law School |
Early life and career
editDunn was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated from the College of St. Thomas and University of Minnesota Law School.[1][2]
California State Senate
editAs senator, Dunn led the state's investigation into Enron's involvement in the 2000–2001 energy crisis.[3] He was first elected to the state Senate in 1998, when he unseated incumbent Republican Rob Hurtt by a 51% to 49% margin. Dunn was reelected in 2002. He ran for the Democratic nomination for Controller in 2006 but lost by 53% to 47% to John Chiang, who would then go on to win the general.
In October 2006, Dunn was appointed as CEO of the California Medical Association.[4]
State Bar of California
editIn 2010, Dunn was selected as the Executive Director of the State Bar of California.[5] On November 13, 2014, the State Bar issued a statement saying that Dunn's employment as Executive Director had been terminated by the Board of Trustees.[6] According to the Courthouse New Service, Dunn then filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the State Bar challenging the termination because he had exposed malfeasance and "egregious improprieties."[7][8][9] The State Bar denied Dunn's allegations, saying the "Board received a complaint from a high-level employee raising serious, wide-ranging allegations about ... Dunn and certain State Bar employees."[10][11] In January 2016, The Recorder released a report indicating that State Bar, while under Dunn's leadership, incurred excessive international travel expenses for trips to El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru and Mongolia.[12] Dunn's allegations against the State Bar were diverted to an arbitration proceeding under terms of his contract. In March 2017, Arbitrator Edward Infante issued a ruling that exonerated the State Bar, which had said it fired Dunn in 2014 for misleading the agency's board about critical policy matters.[13]
In July 2022, the State Bar filed disciplinary charges against Dunn, alleging three counts of moral turpitude during his time heading the organization and seeking his disbarment.[14][15][16]
Dunn is a founding partner of The Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP, "a law and political consulting firm where [the founders]...exert a powerful influence on national and statewide issues."[17]
References
edit- ^ Jones, David (March 30, 2006). "Political Fortune: State Senator Joe Dunn". Capitol Weekly. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Dunn". Smart Voter. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
- ^ "Witness tells Senate Enron manipulated state's power market". Lodi News-Sentinel. April 12, 2002. p. 4. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ Rauber, Chris (October 30, 2006). "CMA names state Sen. Joe Dunn as new CEO". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ California State Bar News Release, September 20, 2010
- ^ "State Bar Trustees issue statement on Executive Director". State Bar of California. November 13, 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Dinzeo, Maria (November 13, 2014). "Sen. Dunn Files Whistleblower Action Against California State Bar". Courthouse New Service. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Skinner, Curtis (November 14, 2014). "Fired California Bar official files whistle-blower suit against group". Reuters. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Dolan, Maura (November 13, 2014). "Fired California bar official said he tried to expose wrongdoing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ "State Board Issues Statement on Executive Director". State Bar of California. November 15, 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Moxley, R. Scott (November 15, 2014). "California State Bar Fires Back At Joe Dunn's Version Of His Sensational Termination". OC Weekly. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Miller, Cheryl (26 January 2016). "Joe Dunn, Bar Officials Spent Freely on Foreign Travel". The Recorder. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ Walters, Dan (20 March 2017). "Joe Dunn loses arbitration over his firing by State Bar". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Ryan, Harriet; Hamilton, Matt (July 8, 2022). "State Bar files disciplinary charges against former director Joe Dunn". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Dinzeo, Maria (July 8, 2022). "Ex-California State Bar director Joe Dunn facing disciplinary action". Courthouse News. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ In the matter of Joseph Laurens Dunn, no. SBC-22-O-30655 (Cal. State Bar Ct., July 5, 2022).
- ^ "Our History". The Senators Firm. Retrieved 14 March 2016.