A California judge has recommended that John Eastman, former lawyer for ex-president Donald Trump, lose his law license over accusations that Eastman attempted to help overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Eastman, facing 11 misconduct charges from the State Bar of California, is accused of pushing to keep Trump in power by obstructing the count of electoral votes in certain states. State Bar Court of California Judge Yvette Roland recommended that Eastman be banned from practicing law in California, but a ruling from the state’s Supreme Court is required for disbarment. Eastman’s lawyer maintains that his actions were based on legal precedent, constitutional research, and scholarly material, and that disbarment would hinder his ability to fund his defense in criminal cases.
Eastman is also facing criminal charges in Georgia alongside Trump, with allegations that he was a key figure in a plot to overturn the election using fake electors in states where Trump lost. Eastman has denied any wrongdoing and defended his actions as an exercise of First Amendment rights. The attempt to disbar Eastman was described as unfair and an attempt to hinder his criminal defense in Georgia by his counsel, who argued that it would prevent him from earning funds needed for his legal expenses. State Bar chief trial counsel George Cardona accused Eastman of abandoning his ethical and legal duties as an attorney by attempting to obstruct the counting of electoral votes and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden.
In a closing brief filed by the State Bar of California, it was argued that Eastman’s actions struck at the heart of what it means to be a lawyer and undermined democracy. The brief alleged that Eastman engaged in multiple acts of wrongdoing to keep Trump in power despite losing the election, contributed to the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, eroded public trust in government institutions, and sought to disenfranchise millions of voters. The State Bar called for Eastman’s disbarment, stating that he showed no remorse for his actions and would continue engaging in the same misconduct if allowed. The brief emphasized that disbarment was the only appropriate outcome.
Eastman’s lawyer, Randall Miller, expressed confidence that the Review Court would provide a remedy if necessary, and emphasized Eastman’s commitment to being a zealous advocate for his clients. The statement maintained that Eastman’s post-election activities were based on legal precedent and research and that being unable to practice law would hinder his ability to fund his defense. The state bar announced that Eastman had been placed on “involuntary inactive status” and could not practice law in California while his case was being considered by the Supreme Court. His counsel argued that revoking his law license would serve no legitimate purpose to protect the public and was an unfair attempt to hamper his criminal defense.
The State Bar of California accused Eastman of abandoning his ethical and legal duties as an attorney by helping to obstruct the counting of electoral votes in 2021, knowing that there was no legitimate basis to reject the votes or delay the electoral count. The state bar chief trial counsel argued that the harm caused by Eastman’s actions and the threat they posed to democracy warranted his disbarment. The state bar maintained that Eastman’s actions had undermined public trust in institutions and officials, contributed to the violence at the Capitol, and sought to disenfranchise voters. The state bar’s closing brief called for disbarment as the only appropriate outcome given Eastman’s actions and lack of remorse.
