Opinion No. (1997)

DANIEL E. LUNGREN Attorney General ANTHONY Da VIGO Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE CHARLES M. CALDERON, MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE, has requested an opinion on the following question: May an individual who is not a member of the State Bar of California represent a party, including the preparation of pleadings and the making of appearances, with respect to a formal proceeding before the California Public Utilities Commission? CONCLUSION An individual who is not a member of the State Bar of California may represent a party, including the preparation of pleadings and the making of appearances, with respect to a formal proceeding before the California Public Utilities Commission. ANALYSIS The California Public Utilities Commission ("PUC") is a regulatory agency established by the Constitution to fix rates, establish rules, examine records, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, take testimony, punish for contempt, and prescribe a uniform system of accounts for all public utilities subject to its jurisdiction. (Cal. Const., art. XII , § 6 ; Southern Cal. Gas Co . v. Public Utilities Com . (1979) 24 Cal.3d 653 , 656 .) We are asked whether an individual who is not…