California Supreme Court Disbars John Eastman Over 2020 Election Efforts

John Eastman, the attorney who helped architect Donald Trump’s legal strategy to overturn the 2020 presidential election, can no longer practice law in California. On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the California Supreme Court ordered Eastman disbarred and his name stricken from the state roll of attorneys.

The ruling concludes a yearslong effort by the state bar to strip Eastman of his license following his role in the “fake electors” scheme. In addition to losing his license, the court ordered Eastman to pay $5,000 in sanctions.

The Strategy to Subvert the 2020 Election

Eastman served as a primary architect of a radical strategy aimed at preventing the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory. His plan specifically targeted then-Vice President Mike Pence, urging him to block the certification of electors from contested states to effectively overturn the election results.

Evidence presented by the House Jan. 6 committee in 2022 revealed that Eastman acknowledged the plan was not legal, yet he continued to push for its implementation. Following the Jan. 6 riot, the committee found that Eastman asked another former Trump attorney, Rudy Giuliani, to include him on a list of individuals for President Trump to pardon. however, Eastman did not receive a pardon.

Legal Misconduct and Professional Integrity

The disbarment follows a 2024 recommendation from a State Bar Court of California judge. George Cardona, the chief trial counsel for the State Bar of California, stated that the decision was based on clear evidence that Eastman misled the American public, public officials, and the courts by advancing false claims about the 2020 election.

Cardona emphasized that Eastman’s misconduct was “incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney.”

Eastman’s Defense and Appeal

Eastman has consistently argued that he was simply providing legal advice and is being punished for it. His attorney, Randall A. Miller, contends that the California Supreme Court’s decision departs from U.S. Supreme Court precedents that protect First Amendment rights within the context of attorney discipline.

Miller stated that Eastman intends to seek a review of the case before the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge what he describes as a “threat to the rule of law” and a constitutional concern regarding the state’s regulation of attorney speech.

Key Takeaways

• Action: The California Supreme Court disbarred John Eastman and removed him from the state roll of attorneys on April 15, 2026.
• Reasoning: Misconduct related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including misleading the public and officials.
• Financial Penalty: Eastman must pay $5,000 in sanctions.
• Next Steps: Eastman’s legal team plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court on First Amendment grounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was John Eastman disbarred?

He was disbarred for his role in seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election, specifically for developing a strategy to have Vice President Mike Pence interfere with the certification of the results.

Did John Eastman admit the plan was illegal?

According to evidence from the House Jan. 6 committee, Eastman acknowledged that the plan to have the Vice President reject electors was not legal.

Can John Eastman still practice law?

He can no longer practice law in the state of California, as his name has been stricken from the state roll of attorneys.