California State Bar recommends former Trump attorney be disbarred

The State Bar of California is recommending John Eastman, a former attorney for Donald Trump, be disbarred from practicing law.

The recommendation was made in a 128-page ruling that found Eastman “culpable” of ten disciplinary charges filed by the State Bar’s investigative authority.

Among those charges, he’s accused of failing to support the Constitution and laws of the United States and intentionally attempting to mislead the court.

Unless Eastman challenges the ruling, his case will be presented to the California Supreme Court and he will be placed on involuntary inactive status, keeping him from practicing law in California while the case is reviewed.

Eastman’s role as the former president’s attorney and his alleged involvement in obstructing the Jan. 6, 2021 certification of the Presidential Election was the focus of the case and what led to the recommendation.

The Office of Chief Trial Counsel, which investigates and prosecutes attorney misconduct on behalf of the public, investigated Eastman’s actions and presented its findings to the State Bar.

“Every California attorney has the duty to uphold the constitution and the rule of law,” said Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona. “Mr. Eastman repeatedly violated that duty. Worse, he did so in a way that threatened the fundamental principles of our democracy.”

Over 35 days of trial, Cardona said substantial evidence was presented that showed Eastman “abandoned his ethical and legal duties as an attorney to conspire with then-President Donald Trump” in his efforts to obstruct the counting of electoral votes and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power to the President-elect, Joe Biden.

The California State Bar announced in March 2022 that Eastman would be investigated. Months later, Cardona’s office filed 11 disciplinary charges against him, alleging that he engaged in orchestrating the plan to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election, despite the efforts being unsupported by facts or existing law.

Cardona alleged that Eastman knew there was no “good faith theory or argument” to reject the electoral votes or delay the electoral count, but attempted to do so anyway.

“The harm caused by Mr. Eastman’s abandonment of his duties as a lawyer, and the threat his actions posed to our democracy, more than warrant his disbarment,” Cardona concluded.

During his trial which began in June 2023 and concluded in November, 23 witnesses were called to testify and more than 700 pieces of evidence were shown.

At the end of the trial, the court concluded that Eastman committed “exceptionally serious ethical violations warranting severe professional discipline” which warranted him being disbarred.

The State Bar Court is tasked with determining whether or not an attorney has committed professional misconduct and will then recommend discipline, including suspension or disbarment. The California Supreme Court will then determine if those recommended punishments will be carried out.

To read the complete ruling by the State Bar, click here .

A statement released to KTLA by an attorney representing Eastman refutes the claims made by the Office of Chief Trial Counsel that there was no legal basis for attempting to delay the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021.

“Eastman maintains that his handling of the legal issues … was based on reliable legal precedent, prior presidential elections, research of constitutional text, and extensive scholarly material,” the statement reads. It goes on to describe Eastman as being ethically required to be a “zealous advocate” for his clients.

Eastman is also among 19 co-defendants, alongside the former president, facing conspiracy and racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

His attorney described those charges as “serious and complex” in a case that is truly unprecedented due to his co-defendant being the former President.

Eastman continues to assert his innocence in that case and his attorney says his inability to practice law will make it impossible to afford the “enormous expenses” needed to mount his own legal defense in that trial.

“That is not justice and serves no legitimate purpose to protect the public,” the statement concludes.

Eastman’s representative intimated that they will challenge the Bar’s recommendation in the California Supreme Court.

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