The California Supreme Court has disbarred Los Angeles attorney Aaron Spolin (SBN 310379) for misconduct involving inmate clients and their families. Spolin was found to have misled them about the chances of resentencing relief under Assembly Bill 2942 (AB 2942) while charging unconscionable legal fees. He has been ordered to pay more than $63,000 in restitution plus interest to eight clients or their designees.
The disbarment follows a June stipulation between Spolin and the Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC). According to OCTC, Spolin knowingly advised clients to pursue resentencing even after repeated notifications from the Los Angeles and Orange County district attorneys that such requests would not be considered for violent offenders or would only be accepted through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Examples cited include:
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$14,700 charged to an inmate’s sister despite the inmate’s 160-year sentence for violent felonies.
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$26,700 billed to another family for a murder conviction case that the DA had already deemed ineligible.
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$21,700 collected from an inmate and fiancée for services Spolin knew had no chance of success.
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$28,500 taken from another inmate and his wife, despite eight letters from the OCDA stating requests had to come from CDCR.
“By preying on incarcerated individuals and their families and charging them unconscionable fees for his own personal gain, Mr. Spolin committed egregious misconduct,” said Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona. “His disbarment serves to protect the public and maintain trust in the legal profession.”
Spolin had been on involuntary inactive enrollment since June 20, 2025, pending the Court’s decision.
Attorney discipline cases are prosecuted by OCTC and adjudicated by the State Bar Court, which makes recommendations to the California Supreme Court.
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