The financial integrity of the attorney-client relationship hinges entirely on the proper management of the Client Trust Account (CTA). Sacramento attorney Jugjit Singh Johal violated this foundational principle so severely that the Supreme Court of California ordered his permanent disbarment, effective October 16, 2025.
Johal’s disbarment (Case No. S292211) was a direct result of flagrant commingling of funds—mixing personal and client money—compounded by his complete default in the disciplinary proceedings.
The Cardinal Violation: Commingling of Funds
The core of the misconduct stemmed from Johal’s systemic failure to keep client money separate from his own, which is an absolute ethical mandate under California Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically Rule 1.15(c).
The State Bar found evidence of repeated, non-compliant transactions over a period of months:
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Paying Personal Expenses from the CTA: On at least 16 separate occasions between February and June 2023, Johal paid his personal or business expenses directly out of the Client Trust Account. This act is a severe violation, as it jeopardizes client funds to satisfy the attorney’s debts.
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Depositing Personal Funds into the CTA: During the same period, he deposited personal funds into the CTA on at least 14 occasions. This is the literal act of commingling, blurring the financial line between the client’s money and the attorney’s money.
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Failure to Maintain Records: Johal also failed to keep complete and accurate financial records for funds received on behalf of at least two specific clients, a violation of Rule 1.15(d)(3).
The Final Sanction: Disbarment by Default
The most decisive factor in the imposition of the maximum penalty was Johal’s failure to cooperate with the State Bar’s investigation:
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Notice of Charges: The State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) filed and properly served disciplinary charges on Johal.
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Failure to Respond: Johal failed to respond to the charges, leading the court to enter a default against him in December 2024.
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Disbarment: Under the Rules of Procedure of the State Bar, an attorney’s default in a disciplinary proceeding allows the court to recommend disbarment if the charges are serious enough—and severe trust account violations absolutely meet that threshold.
The Supreme Court accepted the recommendation, ordering Johal’s permanent removal from the practice of law. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in monetary sanctions and comply with Rule 9.20 (notifying clients and courts of his disbarment).
Conclusion: Commingling is a Career Killer
The disbarment of Jugjit Singh Johal serves as an unambiguous warning: the commingling of client funds is a direct path to the permanent loss of a law license.
In California, the rules governing the CTA are rigid and unforgiving. When an attorney repeatedly abuses the trust account by paying personal bills or depositing their own money, and then refuses to cooperate with the subsequent investigation, the Bar will not hesitate to impose the ultimate professional penalty. The integrity of the Bar demands that attorneys who violate the rules of financial separation and transparency be permanently removed to protect the public.