Giuliani’s Law License Suspended by New York Courts
The suspension has little practical impact, and Rudy Giuliani will have the opportunity to contest the decision.
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An appeals court suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in New York on Thursday because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the presidential race, reports the Associated Press. An attorney disciplinary committee had asked the court to suspend Giuliani’s license on the grounds that he’d violated professional conduct rules as he promoted theories that the election was stolen through fraud. The court held that Giuliani, as a lawyer for Trump, “communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large.” Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and U.S. attorney in Manhattan, claimed the investigation violated his First Amendment right to free speech and that he did not knowingly make false statements.
Giuliani will be allowed to fight the suspension and even call witnesses as part of his challenge — a process that could take months to play out — and Giuliani’s attorneys said they expect him to be reinstated “once the issues are fully explored at a hearing.” The ruling prevents Giuliani from representing clients as a lawyer, but it could have limited practical impact. The suspension won’t affect Giuliani’s ability to act as a lobbyist or do security consulting, but will likely prevent him from practicing law in jurisdictions even beyond New York, said David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor.
