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Disbarment really useful for ex-Trump lawyer Eastman by State Bar Court docket of California panel
By Amanda Robert
June 17, 2025, 12:08 pm CDT
Lawyer John Eastman leaves after talking to the media outdoors the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, the place he was booked Aug. 22, 2023. His lawyer David Wolfe speaks to press within the background. (Picture by Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Structure through the Related Press)
Ex-Trump lawyer John Eastman has moved one other step nearer to disbarment, as a unanimous three-judge panel of the State Bar Court docket of California’s overview division affirmed earlier findings that he was culpable of 10 counts of misconduct referring to his illustration of President Donald Trump throughout and after the 2020 election.
“In a democracy nothing could be extra elementary than the orderly switch of energy that happens after a good and unimpeded electoral course of as established by regulation,” the overview division stated in its June 13 opinion. “On this disciplinary matter, we contemplate the suitable self-discipline to advocate to the California Supreme Court docket when an lawyer, who has sworn to uphold the legal guidelines and constitutions of the state of California and the US, makes an attempt to actively undermine the outcomes of an election to essentially the most highly effective workplace in the US.”
Reuters and Regulation.com have protection.
In March 2024, Decide Yvette Roland of the State Bar Court docket of California—the executive arm of the California Supreme Court docket—really useful that Eastman be disbarred. In response to earlier reporting by Regulation.com, Roland wrote that “Eastman’s actions transgressed … moral limits by advocating, taking part in and pursuing a technique to problem the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election that lacked evidentiary or authorized assist.” Because of this, his regulation license additionally was suspended.
The State Bar of California’s chief trial counsel charged Eastman with a number of disciplinary counts in January 2023.
Eastman spoke at Trump’s “Cease the Steal” rally Jan. 6, 2021, and wrote two memos to assist the bogus principle that former Vice President Mike Pence had the facility to reject licensed state electors and reverse Trump’s 2020 election loss. He additionally represented Trump in a lawsuit on the U.S. Supreme Court docket that aimed to invalidate votes in 4 states the place Trump falsely claimed that there was proof of voter fraud, in line with Reuters.
Eastman initially confronted 11 disciplinary costs beneath the state’s enterprise and professions code, with the California bar accusing him of acts of “ethical turpitude, dishonesty or corruption.”
On Friday, the State Bar Court docket of California’s overview division agreed that Eastman “persistently did not be sincere” in his dealings with the courts, the general public, and Pence and his workers.
It rejected Eastman’s claims that antagonistic pretrial rulings and the choose’s bias and conduct in his trial violated his due course of rights.
“Eastman states his case is exclusive, calling it ‘essentially the most politicized disbarment continuing in California’s historical past,’ however his perception is just not proof, nor does it create an look of impropriety relating to the listening to choose,” the opinion stated. “As a result of he identifies no proof aside from his subjective perception, we reject his claims of bias as speculative and conclusory.”
The overview division additionally rejected Eastman’s assertions that the First Modification offered him free speech protections.
“Whereas attorneys have a First Modification proper to make statements in public in the middle of their skilled duties, this proper doesn’t prolong to creating figuring out or reckless false statements of truth or regulation,” the opinion stated.
The State Bar Court docket of California’s overview division stated it really useful that Eastman be disbarred due to “the intense nature and extent of Eastman’s misconduct and the burden of aggravating circumstances in relation to mitigation.”
It additionally stated “disbarment is important to guard the general public, the courts and the authorized career.”
Eastman’s lawyer Randall Miller of Miller Waxler instructed Regulation.com that they’d attraction the choice.
“The choice is an unconstitutional abuse of energy in opposition to attorneys and the authorized system, diminishes the career’s revered independence, and can chill attorneys from representing shoppers in unpopular or controversial issues, particularly these which are inimical to the federal government,” Miller stated.
George Cardona, the State Bar of California’s chief trial counsel, additionally offered an announcement to Regulation.com. He referred to as the ruling “a robust and well timed reminder that whoever they’re and whoever they signify, attorneys should stay true to the moral guidelines that govern their conduct and respect the rule of regulation.”
The California Supreme Court docket, which has the ultimate say on really useful lawyer self-discipline, will now overview Eastman’s case.
See additionally:
Prison costs add twist to Trump attorneys’ disciplinary instances
Former Chapman regulation prof says ex-dean knew of his work for Trump; 2 college students had been ‘thrilled’ to assist
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