Are research attorneys exempt from MCLE?

Here's an interesting pub'd opinion today from 1/5, that starts like this:

The State Bar of California (State Bar) argues that respondent Philip B. Obbard, a research attorney for the Superior Court of the State of California, is not a state employee and is not, therefore, exempt from the State Bar’s mandatory continuing legal education requirements. (See Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6070, subd. (c) [exempting “employees of the State of California”]). 1 The trial court disagreed and entered judgment for Obbard. We affirm.

[Congrats to Mr. Obbard, who represented himself!]