Former Trump attorney John Eastman has been disbarred in California following disciplinary action tied to his involvement in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to a ruling issued by the state’s highest court.
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a recommendation from the State Bar Court, formally revoking Eastman’s license to practice law in the state. The court also imposed $5,000 in sanctions as part of the decision.
Eastman was a central figure in legal strategies aimed at challenging the outcome of the 2020 election, including advising efforts to pressure then–Vice President Mike Pence to reject certified electoral votes from key states won by Joe Biden.
Court upholds ethics findings
Disciplinary proceedings against Eastman began in 2023 after an investigation by the State Bar of California. He faced 11 professional misconduct charges, with a 2024 state bar judge finding him culpable on 10 counts and recommending disbarment.
The findings centered on allegations that Eastman promoted legally questionable theories intended to disrupt the certification of the presidential election results, despite internal acknowledgments that the strategy lacked legal grounding, according to prior congressional investigations.
The California Supreme Court’s ruling effectively ends Eastman’s ability to practice law in the state unless a future appeal overturns the decision.
Defense plans appeal to U.S. Supreme Court
Eastman’s attorney, Randall A. Miller, said the legal team intends to seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the disbarment raises constitutional concerns related to free speech protections for attorneys and limits on state regulation of legal advocacy.
Miller criticized the ruling as inconsistent with established legal precedent and said the case presents broader questions about professional discipline and political expression.
Role in post-election strategy
Eastman was identified by the House Jan. 6 committee as a key architect of efforts to challenge the 2020 election outcome, including proposals that would have required Pence to block or delay certification of Electoral College results.
Committee findings also indicated Eastman privately acknowledged weaknesses in the legal theory underpinning the plan, though he continued to support it publicly and within Trump’s circle.
Following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, Eastman reportedly sought a presidential pardon, according to congressional investigators. He was not included in earlier pardon actions, though he was later covered under broader clemency orders issued years afterward.
Broader legal fallout
Eastman’s disbarment adds to a series of professional sanctions against attorneys linked to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Several other Trump-aligned lawyers, including Rudy Giuliani, have also lost law licenses in multiple jurisdictions over related conduct.
Eastman has separately faced criminal allegations in Georgia tied to election interference efforts. Those charges were later dropped along with other co-defendants after a change in prosecution strategy.
Ongoing appeals expected
While the California ruling marks a major professional setback, Eastman’s legal team is expected to continue challenging the decision through federal channels, potentially escalating the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
For now, however, the disbarment represents a final state-level ruling barring him from practicing law in California.
