Truth or Consequences

July 2025

By Betty Williams
CLA President

Originally airing as a radio program in 1940, by 1956 Bob Barker began hosting what would become a 20-year phenomenon, the televised game show, “Truth or Consequences.”

The quiz show was really a means of playing pranks on contestants who could not answer impossible trivia questions. For example, one participant was asked, “What should you do with clothes you have worn out?” The contestant replied, “Donate the clothes to charity.” Barker declared, “Wrong! You should wear them back home!” The audience laughed heartily.

The consequence for a wrong answer could be anything from having to perform a silly stunt such as impersonating a seal, to receiving an incredible surprise such as reuniting the contestant with a long-lost friend or relative.

The show may have left the airwaves some 50 years ago, but the name stuck as a reminder that there are consequences when we are not truthful. The fear of consequences can be a helpful motivator, for example, by not following the law, particularly when there is a police officer in the rearview mirror. 

The thought of the consequences for not minding one’s health and wellness can also be a motivator to be truthful, at least with oneself. I appreciate that once again, CLA is holding its annual Wellness Walking Challenge, this year with 60 teams! Committing to a team can make it much easier to maintain daily health and wellness goals, and if all goes to plan, the consequences will result in a positive outcome!

For the first time, CLA hosted a swearing-in ceremony for law students who passed the February 2025 California Bar Examination. Chief United States District Judge, Troy L. Nunley, administered the oath of admission on June 25^, 2025, at CLA’s headquarters. It was a momentous occasion.

As attorneys, I think it is important to be reminded of our oath:

I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of an attorney and counselor at law to the best of my knowledge and ability. As an officer of the court, I will strive to conduct myself at all times with dignity, courtesy and integrity.

These are powerful words. When we are sworn in, we are publicly acknowledging our responsibility. We are also telling our future clients, colleagues, and our profession itself, “Trust me.” We are holding ourselves to be 100 percent accountable for our actions, and to always uphold the truth, in fewer than 70 words.

The consequences of upholding our sworn oath are all positive.  Sometimes, our legal successes are publicized, particularly in class action lawsuits making a difference in the lives of hundreds of people simultaneously. For the majority of us though, the truth leads to smaller, but hugely important consequences such as a fairer sentence for a client, helping parties resolve disputes, concluding contract negotiations to help individuals reach personal goals, developing new case law, or assisting government entities in improving processes at the local, state, and national levels.

As we continue to work to increase the diversity of the lawyers in our state to more closely mirror our state’s population, we witness the positive consequences. We should never stop promoting excellence, diversity and inclusion within the legal profession, or working to ensure fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law.  It is these truths that result in the best consequences possible for our clients and our communities, now and in the future.