New York Supreme Court suspends Giuliani's law license

 

Today, in a 33 page ruling, the New York Supreme Court suspended Rudy Giuliani's law license.

"The Attorney Grievance Committee moves for an order, pursuant to Judiciary Law §90(2) and the Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters (22 NYCRR) §1240.9(a)(5), immediately suspending respondent from the practice of law based upon claimed violations of rules 3.3(a); 4.1; 8.4(c) and 8.4(h) of the Rules of Professional Conduct (22 NYCRR 1200.0) (Rules of Conduct or RPC)."

"For the reasons that follow, we conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump’s failed effort at reelection in 2020. These false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent’s narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client. We conclude that respondent’s conduct immediately threatens the public interest and warrants interim suspension from the practice of law, pending further proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committee (sometimes AGC or Committee). "

"This country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and of our current president, Joseph R. Biden.  The hallmark of our democracy is predicated on free and fair elections. False statements intended to foment a loss of confidence in our elections and resulting loss of confidence in government generally  damage  the  proper functioning of  a  free  society.  When those  false  statements are  made  by an  attorney,  it  also erodes  the  public’s  confidence  in the  integrity of attorneys  admitted  to our bar and  damages  the  profession’s  role  as  a  crucial  source  of reliable  information ( the  ent Matter  of Nearing, 16  AD2d  at  516). It  tarnishes  the  reputation of ire  legal  profession and  its  mandate  to  act  as  a  trusted  and  essential  part  of  the machinery  of  justice  ( Ohralik v  Ohio  State Bar Assn, 436 US at  447)."