FILE — Lawyer John Eastman, who developed a legal strategy to keep former President Donald Trump in power, spoke to reporters in Los Angeles on June 20, 2023. Eastman turned himself in to authorities for charges in the Georgia case involving an illegal plot to overturn the 2020 election. He was booked at the Fulton County jail on Tuesday, Aug. 22, and is expected to face a judge in a racketeering case. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
John Eastman, a conservative attorney, has been temporarily suspended from practicing law in D.C. by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
The temporary suspension will be in place until the California disciplinary proceedings are finalized the order penned by Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby.
The former ally of Donald Trump has been fighting to continue representing his clients and earning money as he defends his law licenses while also facing a looming criminal trial on racketeering charges in Fulton County racketeering (RICO) charges in Fulton County, Georgia Georgia.
A similar request to stay his temporary inactive status in California was denied by California State Bar Court Judge Yvette Roland on May 1, citing the seriousness of Eastman's transgressions and the increased likelihood of future misconduct due to his refusal to admit wrongdoing was denied Both attempts to retain his ability to practice law as the cases progress have failed so far
Both attempts to retain his ability to practice law as the cases progress have failed so far.
The D.C. court’s order follows a decision by the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel on April 26 placing Eastman on involuntary active status as a response to a ruling by the State Bar Court of California in March 2024 March 2024 ruling by the State Bar Court of California.
Roland wrote in that ordervigorous advocacy does not excuse Eastman from his professional responsibilities regarding honesty and upholding the rule of law
In November 2023, Roland found Eastman culpable of various election-thwarting efforts
Eastman infamously authored two of many so-called “coup memos.” Those memos advised on potential scenarios under which President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory could be set aside.
Additionally, the former Chapman University law professor supported a similarly failed effort to overturn the 2020 election at the U.S. Supreme Court launched by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The Lone Star State argued against expanding mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin, saying it could lead to a lot of fraud. They also said that even if there was just a small chance of fraud in a close race, they should review it, even if there was no election fraud in the end. But only two justices — Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito — wanted to listen to those arguments. The high court did not take action.
Two complaints were made against Eastman by the States United Democracy Center, a group that supports voting rights and has fought against Trump’s attempts to change the results of the 2020 election.
Someone complained about Eastman to the California bar in September 2021 and then to the D.C. bar in August 2022.
In a statement to Law&Crime, the group praised the latest development in the long story of Eastman's legal problems.
“We support the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for doing this to stop John Eastman from practicing law,” said Gillian Feiner, the group’s senior lawyer. “Eastman tried to help Trump turn around the 2020 election. People who do not keep their promises and use their law license to hurt the rule of law should not be able to practice. This is an important step in giving real results to Trump’s lawyers and protecting our democracy.”