California Court Upheld Psychologist Probation Denial

An appeals court ruled that the practitioner failed to sufficiently demonstrate personal rehabilitation.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Mental Health

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a brass medallion and a wooden mallet on a stone plinth, representing judicial regulatory oversight. — A California appeals court affirmed a decision to deny a psychologist's request for early termination of her professional licensing probation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A California appeals court has affirmed a decision to deny a psychologist's request for early termination of her professional licensing probation. The court found that the practitioner failed to adequately show she had achieved rehabilitation following a prior fraud conviction.

Why it matters

The ruling underscores the standard that disciplinary probation requires proof of personal growth and accountability. Courts have maintained that mere administrative compliance does not automatically warrant the early lifting of professional sanctions.

The psychologist was ordered to pay over $11,000 in restitution following a 2018 fraud conviction. Her professional license was placed under a five-year probation term by the Board of Psychology in 2021.

The players

Morella Bombardini

She is a psychologist whose license was placed on five-year probation following a misdemeanor workers compensation fraud conviction.

Board of Psychology

This is the California state regulatory agency responsible for licensing psychologists and overseeing disciplinary actions.

The details

The Board of Psychology initially revoked the practitioner's license in 2021 before staying the order in favor of a five-year probationary period including monitoring and coursework. The court determined that the practitioner minimized her past conduct, which hindered her argument for early release from these conditions.

In 2018, the practitioner pleaded no contest to misdemeanor fraud.
The fraud conviction was dismissed in 2019.
The Board of Psychology imposed five years of probation in 2021.
The request for early probation termination was filed in 2023.
The appeals court upheld the denial of the termination request on October 6, 2026.

The Big Picture

This case follows established legal precedents regarding the burden of proof required for early termination of professional disciplinary probation. The ruling reinforces the state's stringent requirements for practitioners to prove personal accountability as part of their rehabilitation.

This decision ensures that practitioners currently under disciplinary oversight remain subject to state-mandated monitoring conditions for the full duration of their probation. Patients in California can continue to verify the active licensing status and disciplinary history of their providers through the state regulatory portal.

The takeaway

Licensing boards often prioritize public safety by requiring practitioners to demonstrate genuine remorse and behavioral change beyond simple adherence to rules. Professionals should be aware that moving out of state does not automatically end disciplinary obligations imposed by the original jurisdiction.