Harbor Commissioner Retires his Law License, Lashes out at State Bar

Crescent City Harbor Commissioner Dan Schmidt has been notified he is ineligible to practice Law in the State of California, as of July 1, 2025. Schmidt responded to The Triplicate:

“After more than 30 years as an active member of the State Bar of California representing  perhaps 10,000 clients, I simply got tired of paying  $400-$500 a year for Bar dues, when I haven’t had a client in Court for the past ten years.” Schmidt then lashed out, “The State Bar has become another bloated California State agency that no longer effectively serves its membership or the public.

Recently, Schmidt, without consulting fellow commissioners, met with the harbormaster and attempted a Quid Pro Pro of asking to have the harbormaster hire his brother in a management position and proffered a proposal to resign from the harbor board, a clear act of nepotism. The harbormaster declined Schmidt’s offer. After the harbormaster declined Schmidt’s offer, Schmidt changed his support for the harbormaster and joined with another commissioner to review the recently supported five year contract for the harbormaster.